Effect of baffles on sloshing modulated fluid force and torque fluctuations on the dewar driven by gravity gradient acceleration in microgravity

The dynamical behavior of fluids affected by the asymmetric gravity gradient acceleration is studied. In particular the effect of surface tension on partially liquid filled rotating fluids applicable to a full-scale Gravity Probe-B Spacecraft dewar tank with and without a baffle have been investigated. Results of slosh wave excitation along the liquid-vapor interface induced by gravity gradient acceleration indicate that the gravity gradient acceleration is equivalent to the combined effect of a twisting force and torsional moment acting on the spacecraft. As viscous force (between liquid and solid interface), and surface tension force (between liquid-vapor-solid interface) greatly contribute to the damping effect of slosh wave excitation, a rotating dewar with baffle provides more areas of liquid-solid and liquid-vapor-solid interfaces than that of a rotating dewar without baffle. Results show that the damping effect provided by the baffle reduces the amplitude of slosh wave excitation, lowers the fluid force, torque, and the moment arm of fluid torque fluctuations than that without baffle, and also lowers the degree of asymmetry in the liquid-vapor distribution.