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Published on: February 17, 2019
Splash control of drop impacts with geometric targets
Gabriel Juarez1, Thomai Gastopoulos, Yibin Zhang
1Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Summary
Controlling liquid drop splashing dynamics is possible by altering target geometry. This research reveals how geometric scales influence lamella expansion and splashing stability, offering new insights into fluid dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Fluid Dynamics
- Surface Science
- Nonlinear Dynamics
Background:
- Drop impacts involve complex interactions of inertial, viscous, and capillary forces.
- Lamella formation and breakup into secondary droplets are common phenomena.
- Existing research often focuses on simple geometries, limiting understanding of controlled splashing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of target cross-sectional geometry on drop impact dynamics.
- To demonstrate experimental control over lamella expansion and splashing stability.
- To elucidate the mechanisms governing regular versus irregular splashing behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Experimental drop impact studies using controlled target geometries.
- Systematic variation of target cross-sectional dimensions while maintaining constant impact parameters.
- High-speed imaging to analyze lamella expansion, rim breakup, and splashing patterns.
Main Results:
- Observed unique splashing dynamics, including geometrically shaped lamellae, by varying target geometry.
- Demonstrated a transition in splashing stability from regular to irregular patterns.
- Identified geometric scales comparable to drop diameter as key control parameters.
Conclusions:
- Target cross-sectional geometry significantly controls liquid drop impact splashing dynamics.
- Regular splashes are influenced by azimuthal perturbations from the target geometry.
- Irregular splashes are governed by the Plateau-Rayleigh instability, indicating a transition in dominant physical mechanisms.
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