Oscillation of melt drops in magnetic fields.

S. P. Song - B. Q. Li

School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164 USA

Abstract
A numerical study of the complex electrodynamic and hydrodynamic phenomena associated with a conducting droplet positioned by alternating magnetic fields in microgravity is presented. The computational methodology entails solving the Maxwell equations by the combined boundary-finite element method, solving the Navier-Stokes equations by the finite element method, and the use of deforming elements to track the oscillating free surface shapes. The pressure-velocity formulation is used in the finite element model for the internal fluid flow and surface deformation. The induced magnetic fields, magnetically driven flow fields and deformed surface shapes are calculated iteratively for each time step during drop oscillation. Computed results are presented for both free surface oscillations and internal fluid flows in magnetically positioned droplets in microgravity environment. It is found that the magnetically driven internal fluid field is further complicated by the melt movement due to drop oscillation and that there is a frequency change when the positioning coils are left on. For the conditions studied, the droplet oscillation takes place in a weekly nonlinear regime. Figs 4, Refs 9.