Deformation and acceleration-induced fragmentation of the liquid drops in the gradient air flow

Abstract

The regimes of aerodynamic destruction of a falling drop of a low-viscosity liquid in a falling accelerating air flow were experimentally studied. This model formulation allows us to study the behaviour of a drop when the direction of the aerodynamic force is reversed. The experiments showed a large deformation and rather high instantaneous drop acceleration at a moderate velocity gradient. The results confirmed that a change in the sign of aerodynamic force increases the effect of Rayleigh-Taylor instability.