Experimental measurements and numerical modeling of a thermostress convection-based actuator

• DOI: 10.1063/1.4967694
• Publication Date: 2016-11-15T20:30:46Z
• Authors: Katherine Fowee; Aizhan Ibrayeva; Andrew Strongrich; Alina Alexeenko
• Keywords: 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; 02 engineering and technology; 7. Clean energy

The capability of gas actuation using thermal gradients in a rarefied gas flow is demonstrated for arrays of interdigitated hot and cold vanes. The force acting on the cold vane array is quantified using a microNewton torsional balance over a range of pressures between 3.8 mTorr to 900 mTorr. Simulations are carried out using the SPARTA direct simulation monte carlo software to elucidate the mechanisms governing force production. Both experimental and numerical results are non-dimensionalized and fitted using the linear least-squares method. These correlations facilitate prediction of performance for dynamically similar geometries.