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Experiment Overview


Information provided courtesy of the Erasmus Experiment Archive.
Brief Summary

Simulation of Geophysical Fluid Flow under Microgravity - 2 (Geoflow-2) studies heat and fluid flow currents within the Earth's mantle. Geoflow-2 aims to improve computational methods that scientists and engineers use to understand and predict the processes in the Earth's mantle that lead to volcanic eruptions, plate tectonics and earthquakes.

Principal Investigator(s)

Christoph Egbers, Ph.D., Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Germany

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

B. Futterer, Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Germany

Philippe Beltrame, Ph.D., Max-Planck-Institut fur Physik Komplexer Systeme, Dresden, Germany

Pascal Chossat, Centre International Rencontres Mathematiques, Marseille, France

Frederik Feudel, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

Rainer Hollerbach, Ph.D., University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

Innocent Mutabazi, University of Le Havre, Le Havre, France

Laurette Tuckerman, Ph.D., Ecole Superieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles, Paris, France

Developer(s)
Information Pending

Sponsoring Space Agency

European Space Agency (ESA)

Sponsoring Organization

Information Pending

ISS Expedition Duration:

March 2011 - May 2012

Expeditions Assigned

27/28,29/30

Previous ISS Missions

Information Pending

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Experiment Description

Research Overview

• Simulation of Geophysical Fluid Flow Under Microgravity - 2 (Geoflow-2) investigates the flow of a fluid between two rotating spheres, where the smaller sphere sits inside of the larger sphere. The spheres rotate about a common axis under the influence of a simulated gravitational force field (the gravity field simulated with an applied electric field).



• Geoflow-2 differs from Geoflow-1 in that the fluid in Geoflow-2 is designed to change its inherent resistance to flow (viscosity) when the temperature of the fluid changes.



• This experimental design will help to show how fluids flow in a configuration similar to the one found in the liquid nuclei of planets.



• Understanding the fluid flow in this experiment will not only enhance computer models in predicting earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but also could be useful in a variety of engineering applications, such as improving spherical gyroscopes and bearings, and centrifugal pumps.

Description

Information Pending

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Applications

Space Applications

Information Pending

Earth Applications

Information Pending

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Operations

Operational Requirements

Information Pending

Operational Protocols

Information Pending

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Results/More Information

Information Pending

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Related Websites

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Imagery

Geoflow-2 models convection in the Earth's mantle (Image courtesy of Brandenburgische Technische Universität).
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Geoflow-2 fluid cell assembly: core unit of the experiment. The inner sphere is just visible inside outer glass. Image courtesy of Brandenburgische Technische Universität.
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NASA Image: ISS029E006885 - View of printed sign saying "DO NOT TOUCH. EXPERIMENT RUNNING" in front of the FSL (Fluid Science Laboratory) rack taken by the Expedition 29 crew.
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