Numerical simulation of conducting droplet impact on a surface under an electric field

Abstract

In this study, conducting droplet impact on a wall under an electric field is simulated by adopting a sharp approach for interface modeling. The level-set method is used for the purpose of interface capturing. The ghost fluid method is adopted to impose discontinuities at the interface. According to the results, the maximum spreading radius of the droplet decreases as the electric field strength increases. In addition, the electric stresses have a tendency to elongate the droplet in the direction of the electric field. Increasing the electric field strength increases the droplet elongation. For stronger electric fields, the droplet is elongated with a higher rate. For contact angles greater than $$90^{\circ }$$ (where the droplet rebounding is possible), increasing the electric field strength increases the contact time between the droplet and the surface. Moreover, for stronger electric fields, the droplet contact time increases with a higher rate. For contact angles less than $$90^{\circ }$$, the rebounding stage does not occur and the droplet reaches an equilibrium state after a while. In this case, under stronger electric fields, a small droplet may detach.