Spatial instability of a viscous liquid sheet

Abstract

In the present study, the spatial instability for a two-dimensional viscous liquid sheet, which is thinning with time, has been analysed. The study includes the derivation of a spatial dispersion equation, numerical solutions for the growth rate of sinuous disturbances, and parameter sensitivity studies. For a given wave number, the growth rate of the disturbance is essentially a function of Weber number, Reynolds number, and gas/liquid density ratio. The analysis indicates that the cut-off wave number of the disturbance becomes larger with an increase in Weber number or gas/liquid density ratio. Thus, the liquid sheet should produce finer drops. When the Reynolds number decreases, the higher viscosity has a greater damping effect on shorter waves than longer waves. This could explain that only large drops and ligaments were observed in past measurements for the disintegration of a very viscous sheet. The spatial instability results of the present study were also compared with the temporal theory. The importance of spatial analysis was found and demonstrated for the cases of low Weber numbers. The temporal theory underestimates growth rates when the Weber number is less than 100. The discrepancy between the two theories increases as the Weber number further decreases. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.