Melling, Laura2008-07-302008-07-302003-06https://hdl.handle.net/1794/6985vii, 57 p. ; ill. A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call number: SCA Archiv Melling 2003We have observed a novel phenomenon by which asymmetrically structured surfaces can be used to direct the motion of film boiling droplets without applying an external force to the system. Droplets placed on such a surface move in a preferred direction, and under common conditions accelerate in that direction. In this thesis, we present a phenomenological description of the observed behavior, and develop a mathematical model for the motion of droplets on ratchet and non-ratchet surfaces. Using this model, we show that asymmetry is a requisite of the observed behavior. We also show that surface and droplet properties influence the resulting acceleration.2116808 bytesapplication/pdfen-USThesis