Shear Force in Radiometric Flows

The impact of the radiometer vane thickness and edge geometrical shape on the total radiometric force is examined numerically solving the ES BGK model kinetic equation. The flow of argon over a single vane and a multi-vane configurations is considered in the range of Knudsen numbers from 0.02 to 1. The shear force is found to reduce the total radiometric force for most vane configurations. It is shown that the change in the vane shape may offset the losses due to the shear force in the multi-vane geometry.
For presentation at the International Symposium on Rarefied Gas Dynamics (27th), to be held in Monterey, CA on 10-15 July 2010.