Numerical simulation on oscillation of micro-drops by means of smoothed particle hydrodynamics

Abstract

In this paper, we present a modified smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method. SPH is a Lagrangian meshfree particle method, and it is attractive in dealing with free surfaces, moving interfaces, and deformable boundaries. The improved SPH method modifies the kernel gradient in the traditional SPH method with a new kernel function and a modified SPH discrete form. Use of improved smoothed particle hydrodynamics is made to carry out numerical analysis on micro liquid drop oscillation process. The study focuses on the relation between the micro liquid drop oscillation damping and the oscillating period and amplitude in different aspect ratio and Re number. It is shown that for the micro liquid drop oscillation process with aspect ratio λ≤ 4, under the circumstance of constancy of other parameters, the larger the Re number, the more intense the change of liquid drop's shapes, the weaker the damping effect, and the longer the period of liquid drop's oscillation. Under the circumstance of constancy of Re number, as the initial aspect ratio of liquid drop increases, the amplitude of liquid drop oscillation is stronger, and the period of liquid drop's oscillation is longer.