Numerical Analysis of Dual Droplet Simultaneous Oblique Impact on a Water Film

Abstract

The simultaneous oblique impact of multiple droplets on a liquid film is an intricate phenomenon prevalent in diverse natural and industrial processes. However, previous studies have primarily focused on single droplet impact, while an in-depth understanding of the more complex multi-droplet scenario remains lacking. The current study aims to numerically investigate the simultaneous oblique impact of two droplets on a water film using a three-dimensional Volume of Fluid (VOF) model. The effects of the Weber number and the impact angle on the crown behavior are carefully analyzed. The results demonstrate that increasing the Weber number enhances the central uprising sheet height but has minor influences on the upstream crown radius and central sheet radius. In contrast, the increase in the impact angle leads to a decreased upstream crown radius and an increased central sheet radius, while the central sheet height remains relatively unaffected. In addition, the splashing threshold for the dual droplet impact cases is significantly lower than that of the single droplet impact cases due to the interactions between the adjacent crowns. The present results provide novel insights into the underlying physics and useful supports in developing predictive models for the intricate multi-droplet impact phenomenon.