Experimental Study on Droplet Splash and Receding Breakup on a Smooth Surface at Atmospheric Pressure

Area of Science:

• Fluid Dynamics
• Surface Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Droplet impact dynamics are crucial in various industrial processes.
• Understanding droplet behavior, including deposition and disintegration, is essential for process optimization.
• Liquid viscosity plays a key role in droplet impact phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate droplet impact on a smooth solid surface.
• To analyze the influence of liquid viscosity on droplet deposition and disintegration.
• To develop a predictive model for droplet impact outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Experimental study of droplet impact at atmospheric pressure.
• Systematic variation of liquid viscosity.
• Analysis of droplet behavior, including spreading, splashing, and receding breakup.

Main Results:

• The critical Weber number, separating deposition from disintegration, shows a non-monotonic dependence on the Ohnesorge number (Oh).
• Splash and receding breakup phenomena were qualitatively explained by analyzing forces on the liquid film rim.
• A semi-empirical correlation accurately predicts deposition/disintegration thresholds across a wide viscosity range.

Conclusions:

• Liquid viscosity is a critical parameter governing droplet impact regimes.
• The proposed correlation provides a valuable tool for predicting droplet impact outcomes.
• This research enhances the understanding of droplet dynamics in fluid mechanics.