Prelimina
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Application / 06 · Microgravity

Wetting takes over in microgravity.

Where does the liquid go once surface tension and wetting outweigh gravity?

Availability: In development

Inputs
Tank geometry, fill level, liquid properties, surface tension, a static contact angle, and a gravity history.
Variables to explore
Contact angle or gravity level. Change one at a time.
Keep the comparison consistent
Use the same geometry, fill, grid, numerical settings, and gravity history for every contact angle. A run without surface tension stays at rest.
Outputs
Live fluid views and particle exports for offline rendering.
Comparison quantities
Meniscus height at the wall against the centre, and where the liquid sits in the tank.
Physical assumptions
A single liquid in a passive void, a static contact angle on a rigid wall, and a step change in gravity. The Bond number on the tank radius is 0.13 after the step.
Scope
Software demonstration. At intermediate contact angles (about 60–120°) on curved walls the liquid still drifts around the tank at 0.001 g; a fix is in progress. Low viscosity keeps the liquid moving after 8 s. Gas, thermal, and propellant effects are not represented.
APPLICATION / 06Simulation
Two half-filled spherical tanks side by side. After gravity drops, the wetting liquid on the left climbs the wall and leaves a curved hollow; the non-wetting liquid on the right pulls away from the wall and rises into a dome.
Prelimina FLIP runs of a half-filled 62.5 mm sphere with a water-like liquid, surface tension 0.072 N/m, and a static contact angle of 30° (left) or 150° (right). Gravity steps from 0.1 g to 0.001 g at t = 1 s. Mid-plane section coloured by speed (0–0.1 m/s). Development build 389717f5.
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