Some perspectives on electromagnetic levitation in space experimentation

J. Szekely - E. Schwartz

Department of Material Sciences an Engineering, Massachusetts Instituteof Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA

Abstract
A brief overview is given of recent work aimed at the modelling of phenomena associated with electromagnetic levitation as applied to the design of a successfully-performed Space Shuttle experiment. The actual experiment involves melting, then squeezing and deforming a metallic sample, and observing the oscillations that occur once the squeezing force is discontinued. We have calculated the levitation forces, stirring forces, and deformation of the sample through the simultaneous solution of the electromagnetic field equations and Navier-Stokes equations with due allowance for a balance of normal stress components at the free surface that also included hydrodynamic forces. The temperature distribution in a levitated droplet has also been calculated through solution of the differential thermal energy balance equation. Figs 6, Refs 13.