Capillary Rise under Microgravity in Variously-Shaped Capillary Glass Tubes

• MARUO Yuichi

  Graduate school of Agriculture, Meiji University,

• SATO Naoto

  Graduate school of Agriculture, Meiji University,

• NOBORIO Kosuke

  Department of Agriculture, Meiji University,

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 形状の異なるガラス細管中の微小重力下における毛管上昇

Abstract

Water movement plays an important role to grow crops under microgravity. Previous research reported that water hardly moved in porous media whereas water in capillary tubes rose to the top of the tubes under microgravity. Another study reported that water hardly moved on concave surfaces under microgravity. Our objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of surface shape and junction of capillary tubes on water movement driven by the capillary force under microgravity. We used several shapes of tube (straight, concave-convex, wide-narrow, narrow-wide, Y-shaped, T-shaped and spiral) and observed water movement in the tubes during drop–tower induced microgravity. Water in concave–convex, wide–narrow tubes moved beyond concave and convex surfaces under microgravity. Water in narrow–wide tubes, however, stopped on their concave surfaces. In the Y- and T-shaped glass tubes, water movement was restricted after the junction of glass tubes by viscous force.

Journal

• International journal of microgravity science and application

  International journal of microgravity science and application 36 (2), 360206-, 2019-04-30

  The Japan Society of Microgravity Application

Keywords

• Water movement
• Capillary force
• Porous media
• Space agriculture
• Long-term space mission

Details

• CRID: 1390565134803802368
• NII Article ID: 130007760919
• DOI: 10.15011/jasma.36.2.360206
• ISSN: 21889783
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed