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Analysis of institutional authors

Sanchez, PsCorresponding AuthorEzquerro, JmAuthorFernandez, JAuthorRodriguez, JAuthor

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January 1, 2021
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Thermocapillary effects during the melting of phase-change materials in microgravity: steady and oscillatory flow regimes

Publicated to: JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS. 908 A20- - 2021-02-10 908(), DOI: 10.1017/jfm.2020.852

Authors:

Salgado Sanchez, P; Ezquerro, J M; Fernandez, J; Rodriguez, J
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Affiliations

‎ Univ Politecn Madrid, E USOC, Ctr Computat Simulat, Dept Aeronaves & Vehiculos Espaciales,Escuela Tec, Plaza Cardenal Cisneros 3, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
‎ Univ Politecn Madrid, E USOC, Ctr Computat Simulat, Dept Matemat Aplicada Ingn Aerosp,Escuela Tecn Su, Plaza Cardenal Cisneros 3, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author

Abstract

A detailed numerical investigation of thermocapillary effects during the melting of phase-change materials in microgravity is presented. The phase-change transition is analysed for the high-Prandtl-number material n-octadecane, which is enclosed in a two-dimensional rectangular container subjected to isothermal conditions along the lateral walls. The progression of the solid/liquid front during the melting leaves a free surface, where the thermocapillary effect acts driving convection in the liquid phase. The nature of the flow found during the melting depends on the container aspect ratio, Gamma, and on the Marangoni number, Ma. For large Gamma, this flow initially adopts a steady return flow structure characterised by a single large vortex, which splits into a series of smaller vortices to create a steady multicellular structure (SMC) with increasing Ma. At larger values of Ma, this SMC undergoes a transition to oscillatory flow through the appearance of a hydrothermal travelling wave (HTW), characterised by the creation of travelling vortices near the cold boundary. For small Gamma, the thermocapillary flow at small to moderate Ma is characterised by an SMC that develops initially within a thin layer near the free surface. At larger times, the SMC evolves into a large-scale steady vortical structure. With increasing applied Ma, a complex oscillatory mode is observed. This state, referred to as an oscillatory standing wave (OSW), is characterised by the pulsation of the vortical structure. Finally, for an intermediate Gamma both HTWand OSWmodes can be found depending on Ma.
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Keywords

DesignEnergy-storageHeat-transfer enhancementMarangoni convectionMarangoni number convectionMeltingMetalNepcmPattern formationPcmRectangular cavitySolidificationSolidification/melting

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2021, it was in position 3/34, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Physics, Fluids & Plasmas. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 2.89. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 13, 2025)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 2.73 (source consulted: FECYT Mar 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2026-04-26, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 42
  • Scopus: 47
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-26:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 13 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/87337/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 157
  • Downloads: 103
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (SALGADO SANCHEZ, PABLO) and Last Author (RODRIGUEZ OTERO, JACOBO).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been SALGADO SANCHEZ, PABLO.

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Awards linked to the item

This work was supported by the Spanish User Support and Operations Centre (E-USOC) and the Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieria Aeronautica y del Espacio at the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid. We thank the research group of Ciencias y Operaciones Aeroespaciales for their invaluable efforts and, in particular, Professor J. Porter for helpful discussions and the English revision of the manuscript.
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