Accurate numerical simulations should provide a powerful toolfor planning meaningful experiments on future space missions. Acomprehensive, general purpose tool or simulation of spacebasedmaterials processing problems will be developed using the NEKTONspectral element general-geometry flow code. This tool will enable theoptimization of configurations and parameters required for spaceapplications. In particular, the floating-zone melt problem will bemodeled, which is critical for economically and reproducibly increasingthe yield of high-quality crystals. This will involve enhancing theNEKTON code to handle Marangoni convection due to variable surfacetension, accurate implementation of triple-point conditions, radiativeheat transfer, and volumetric heating.Materials-processing-in-space is an exciting new field of technology.Computational simulation methods are required to achieve optimalexperimental configurations and parameter choices because of the limitedopportunity to perform preliminary experiments in a microgravityenvironment.materials processing, microgravity, marangoni convection, floating zonemelt, spectral elementsSTATUS: Phase I Only
