Splashing impact of a single drop onto very thin liquid films
Journal
Physics of Fluids
Journal Volume
12
Journal Issue
9
Pages
2155-2158
Date Issued
2000
Author(s)
Abstract
A novel method was developed to produce liquid films with thicknesses in the range of H*<0.1. The film-generating method allows film thickness measurement with minimum uncertainty. The critical splash level of a drop on very thin liquid films is found to be independent of film thickness for a given solid surface as long as the film is thin. However, the critical level is directly proportional to liquid viscosity. Liquid films with thicknesses on the order of 1 mm were commonly used for the study of drop impingement onto a wetted surface. This is because films thinner than 1 mm are difficult to generate and measure due to capillary meniscus. In this work a novel method to produce thin films of well-defined thickness has been developed. Also a reliable process with minimum uncertainty to determine film thickness was proposed. New splashing phenomena were observed for drop impact onto thin films. It is found that the critical splash level (the threshold Weber number) is insensitive to film thickness for a given solid surface if the film is sufficiently thin. It is also shown that the critical splash level increases with liquid viscosity. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics.
Publisher
American Inst of Physics, Woodbury
Type
journal article