Cohesion and Adhesion in Space of H 2 O

Cohesion and Adhesion in Space of H2O

Team CASH2O : Donald Durgan, Afton-Dawn Johnson, Jennifer Meyer, Eric Lovejoy

Advisors: Dr. Sean S. Kohles, Dr. Mark M. Weislogel

Reduced Gravity Flight Program

Submit microgravity experiment proposal.• Experiment must require microgravity environment.• Proposal must include an outreach plan.

If accepted submit Test Equipment Data Package (TEDP). Begin any scheduled outreach.

Head to Johnson Space Center and perform experiment aboard low-g aircraft.

PSU teams 2003 and 2004

2003 Mechanical Engineering (Team ALBERT)

2004 Off Planet Architecture Team

2004 Mechanical Engineering Team

Our ExperimentObjective is to study the ability of moving water droplets to adhere to surfaces of unique geometries.

Aimed for a velocity and drop size that would theoretically result in some rebounding and some adherence.

Looking for surface geometries that aid in adherence.

Requires microgravity so that effects during collisions from surface tension forces are not overwhelmed by gravity.

Apparatus

A

B

CD

E

F

A – LaptopB – Syringe PumpC – Lexan Polycarbonate PanelD – 80/20 Aluminum FrameE – AxleF – Video Camera

Flight Week

The Experience

• Dinner with NASA and Boeing

• Tour of Neutral Buoyancy Lab and Johnson Space Center

• Presentation by astronaut David Wolf

• Test Readiness Review

• Physiological Training and Hypobaric Chamber

Experimental EnvironmentFlight Description

• 2 hours • 30 Zero-g parabolas

plus one Lunar and

one Martian parabola• 15 - 25 seconds of

microgravity per parabola

Flight Trajectory

45 Nose Low

What Went Wrong?

The Problem

• In Normal Earth Gravity Pump Works

• In Flight, Pump Works

• During Parabolas, Pump Does Not Work

• Back on Earth, Pump Works

What Went Wrong?

The Fix

• Disconnect Keypad of Syringe Pump

• Hardwired a Switch to Syringe Pump

• Cut Hole in Lexan to Allow Manual Plunge of Syringe

Special ThanksNational Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA

Oregon Space Grant Tyco Electronics

CECS Tap plastics

Dr Mark WeislogelDr Faryar Etesami Dr Sean S Kohles

Dr Derek Tretheway Molly Meyer Joni Heveron

Jake VanderhaarAaron Scates Our Parents