Simulations of splashing high and low viscosity droplets

Abstract

In this work, simulations are presented for low viscosity ethanol and high viscosity silicone oil droplets impacting on a dry solid surface at atmospheric and reduced ambient pressure. The simulations are able to capture both the effect of the ambient gas pressure and liquid viscosity on the droplet impact and breakup. The results suggest that at early times droplet impact and gas film behavior for both low and high viscosity liquids share the same physics. However, at later times, during liquid sheet formation and breakup, high and low viscosity liquids behave differently. These results explain why for both kinds of liquids the pressure effect can be observed, while at the same time different high and low viscosity splashing regimes have been identified experimentally.