Steady-state deformation behavior of confined composite droplets under shear flow.

Abstract

The shear-induced dynamics of two-dimensional composite droplets in a narrow channel is investigated numerically. The droplets consist of a viscous inner droplet (core) and shell immersed in a continuous Newtonian fluid. Attention is focused on studying the effects of confinement at different core-to-shell radii ratios, relative viscosities of the medium components, and interfacial tensions on the steady-state deformation and orientation of a composite droplet. The role of the "sustaining" effect due to the internal core and competition between the near-wall shear flow and downward and upward secondary streams is discussed.