Numerical analysis of contact line dynamics passing over a single wettable defect on a wall

Abstract

In this study, the dynamics of a contact line passing a single defect, which was represented by a locally wettable part (whose static contact angle is less than the other part, namely, chemically heterogeneous and physically flat part), was analyzed using numerical simulations employing the front-tracking method and the generalized Navier boundary condition. We observed that the contact line was distorted with a logarithmic shape far from the defect; however, the distortion was dependent on the wall velocity. The apparent (averaged) dynamic contact angle of the wall with a defect was evaluated using a macroscopic energy balance. The apparent dynamic contact angles estimated from the energy balance agree well with the arithmetic averaged angles obtained from the present simulations. The macroscopic energy balance is useful to consider the effect of heterogeneity or roughness of the wall on the relation between the dynamic contact angle and contact line speed.