Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 3, 2026
11:51
Visually Based Characterization of the Incipient Particle Motion in Regular Substrates: From Laminar to Turbulent Conditions
Published on: February 22, 2018
9.2K
Dynamic-wetting effects in finite-mobility-ratio Hele-Shaw flow
S J Jackson1, D Stevens1, D Giddings1
1Faculty of Engineering, Division of Energy and Sustainability, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|September 19, 2015
Summary
Dynamic wetting significantly alters fluid displacement in Hele-Shaw cells by delaying finger bifurcation and changing finger morphology. This study explores these effects in immiscible fluid flows, impacting interface dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Interface phenomena
- Multiphase flow
Background:
- Immiscible fluid displacement in porous media is crucial in various scientific and industrial applications.
- Hele-Shaw cells are widely used to study fluid instabilities and pattern formation.
- Dynamic wetting effects, including trailing film formation, can significantly influence interface behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of dynamic wetting on immiscible displacement in a Hele-Shaw cell.
- To analyze how trailing film formation affects pressure drop and interfacial dynamics.
- To characterize the changes in finger bifurcation and morphology due to dynamic wetting.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a boundary element formulation to model nonlinear pressure drop.
- Developing a Picard scheme for iterative prediction of interfacial velocity.
- Simulating immiscible displacement under varying mobility ratios and capillary numbers.
Main Results:
- Dynamic wetting delays the onset of finger bifurcation.
- High capillary numbers can alter the fundamental mode of bifurcation, leading to different finger morphologies.
- In low mobility ratios, finger interaction is reduced and breaking mechanisms are delayed.
- In high mobility ratios, finger shielding is reduced, and competition between fingers is lessened.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic wetting plays a critical role in shaping the outcome of immiscible fluid displacement.
- The presence of trailing films modifies the pressure drop and influences the stability of fluid interfaces.
- Understanding dynamic wetting is essential for predicting and controlling fingering patterns in Hele-Shaw flows.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
1.0K
Understanding steady, laminar flow between parallel plates is essential for analyzing and designing flow in narrow rectangular channels, commonly found in various water conveyance and drainage systems. The Navier-Stokes equations govern fluid motion and are generally challenging to solve due to their nonlinearity. However, simplifications are possible in certain cases, like the steady laminar flow between parallel plates. For this scenario, we assume steady, incompressible, laminar flow.
1.0K
01:21Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway
907
Scaled hydraulic models of dam spillways provide a practical way to replicate and study the intricate flow dynamics of these structures. Often built to a 1:15 ratio, these models allow for observing critical water behavior, such as velocity distribution, flow patterns, and energy dissipation.
907
01:22Couette Flow
1.3K
Couette flow represents the flow of fluid between two parallel plates, with one plate fixed and the other moving with a constant velocity. This configuration allows for a simplified analysis using the Navier-Stokes equations, which govern fluid motion under conditions of viscosity and incompressibility. For Couette flow, the assumptions include a steady, laminar, incompressible flow with a zero-pressure gradient in the flow direction. This flow type is beneficial for understanding shear-driven...
1.3K
01:19Capillarity in Fluid
1.5K
Capillarity describes the movement of liquid in small spaces without external forces acting on it. The capillarity is driven by surface tension and adhesive interactions between the liquid and surrounding solid surfaces. This effect is often seen in narrow tubes, porous materials, and fine particles.
Surface tension is crucial to capillarity. It results from cohesive forces between liquid molecules at the liquid-air boundary, forming a skin that resists external forces. When the capillary tube...
Surface tension is crucial to capillarity. It results from cohesive forces between liquid molecules at the liquid-air boundary, forming a skin that resists external forces. When the capillary tube...
1.5K
01:30Typical Model Studies
684
Fluid mechanics model studies often utilize scaled-down systems to predict fluid behavior in full-scale environments, such as river flows, dam spillways, and structures interacting with open surfaces. Maintaining Froude number similarity in river models is crucial, as it replicates surface flow features like wave patterns and velocities.
684
01:27Uniform Depth Channel Flow
780
Uniform depth channel flow keeps fluid depth consistent along channels such as irrigation canals. In natural channels, such as rivers, approximate uniform flow is often assumed. This condition occurs when the channel’s bottom slope matches the energy slope, balancing potential energy lost from gravity with head loss due to shear stress. This balance prevents depth changes along the channel length, resulting in a steady, uniform flow.Uniform flow in open channels with a constant cross-section...
780