Flow Induced Dynamics of a Pinned Droplet on the Surface of a Channel

Abstract

Dynamic behavior of a droplet adhering to the surface of a channel has been modeled under the influence of surrounding fluid. The numerical solution is based on solving Navier-Stokes equations for Newtonian liquids. The study includes the effect of interfacial forces with constant surface tension, also effect of adhesion between the wall and droplet accounted by implementing contact angle at the wall. The Volume-Of-Fluid method is used to numerically determine the deformation of free surface. Droplet deformation and final shapes have been predicted. A reduction in the surface tension allows the droplet to deform much easier. However, an increase in the fluid viscosity, although increases the shear force on the droplet, may not result in the deformation at high surface tension. It is shown that deformation of droplet significantly influences structure of channel flow. Effects of liquid droplet and channel fluid properties, namely density and viscosity, inlet velocity, surface tension and channel geometry on dynamics of the problem have been studied. Two different outcomes have been considered: the first one droplet with equilibrium shape and the other one when breakup of the droplet occurs. The border line between the disintegration region and equilibrium region is determined for different droplet surface tensions.