Fixed contact line helical interfaces in zero gravity

Abstract

Fluid interfaces supported in microgravity by a helical structure are shown to have a more robust stability than more common structures such as liquid bridges. In particular, helical interfaces can take the form of infinite right circular cylinders over a broad range of configurations. In the case of a single fixed contact line support, the infinite cylinder is stable for all cases in which the pitch to diameter ratio is less than π∕3 (more tightly coiled interfaces). When there are two or more equally spaced fixed contact line supports, the infinite cylinder is stable for all configurations. Furthermore, in the two support case (the double helix), stability persists for all volumes from the cylinder to zero volume, when the pitch to diameter ratio is greater than 2.082 (more loosely coiled interfaces). The equivalent to the axisymmetric Young-Laplace equation is derived for helical interfaces. Interfacial stability is determined from equilibrium branch structure following the application of Maddocks’ method by Lowry and Steen [Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 449, 411 (1995)]. Perturbations to finite wavelength disturbances are considered for the case of a single helical support. Overall stability envelopes are presented for single and multiple support cases. Limited experimental results verify the infinite length stability limit for the single helical support case.