# Collaborative Research: ISS: Gravity-Dependence of Dense Granular Flows: Experiments and Digital Twins

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · North Carolina State University (NC) · $275,000

## Abstract

Materials made of grains - like sand, agricultural products, and pharmaceutical powders - are not only some of the most common materials in our daily lives but also cover the surfaces of other planets. Predicting how they will flow on Earth has been a long-standing challenge for engineers. These difficulties will only grow as missions are planned at lower gravity to explore asteroids, the Moon, and Mars. In this project, the team will create powder-flow experiments small enough to fly on the International Space Station. These experiments, performed by astronauts at both high and low gravity, will be compared to results from experiments performed by students here on Earth. Using this data, reliable digital twins will be created and tested, which are computer models that mimic the observed flows.  Through these efforts, cutting-edge training will also be provided to students. 

This project will explore granular flow behavior by conducting and modeling experiments under different gravity conditions, both on Earth and aboard the International Space Station (ISS) using the Multi-use Variable-gravity Platform (MVP). This specialized facility employs a centrifuge to simulate a wide spectrum of gravitational forces - from near-weightlessness to conditions exceeding Earth gravity - offering a rare opportunity to examine how granular systems respond outside typical terrestrial environments. This project will investigate two central hypotheses. The first posits that granular flows ar

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2532009
- **Awardee organization:** North Carolina State University (NC)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** U3NVH931QJJ3
- **PI:** Karen E Daniels
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** —
- **Estimated total:** $275,000
- **Funds obligated:** $275,000
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 08/15/2025 → 07/31/2029

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2532009

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2532009, Collaborative Research: ISS: Gravity-Dependence of Dense Granular Flows: Experiments and Digital Twins. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-06 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2532009. Licensed CC0.

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