An experimental investigation of the effect of random G-jitter on a liquid-bridge

Marangoni convection experiments have been conducted with 5 cSt silicone oil liquid bridges to investigate the effect of random g-jitter on the transition from steady to oscillatory convection at various aspect ratios in a half floating zone. A liquid bridge of 5 cSt silicone oil was suspended between two circular-coaxial disks both 7 mm in diameter and placed on a moving table which produced random g-jitter in all three directions. The g-jitter produced by the table was less than 12 mg simulating the g-jitter in the spacecraft enviroment. The effect of g-jitter was studied on critical temperature difference for different aspect ratios. It was concluded that g-jitter does not change the critical temperature difference in a half floating zone.