Numerical simulation of the influence of vibrations on a free surface flow under microgravity

Abstract The goal of the present study is to have a better understanding of the behaviour of propellant in the “surface tension” tanks of satellites. In this paper, we present “ARGO”, a finite element code which models a free surface flow subject to small vibrations under microgravity. This software is based on the time-dependent linear three-dimensional theory of inviscid fluids. The comparison with analytical results for simple cases helps to understand the behaviour of the capillary waves, whose velocity and wavelength are linked to the depth of liquid. Moreover, this software includes a modal analysis part which contributes to forecasting the fluid instabilities in presence of perturbations due either to pressure variations at the tank exit, or to structural movements governed by a Mathieu's equation. During development of this software, the numerical results have been compared with experimental results performed on the ground, principally photographs. The limits of the software and future developments are presented.