Thermal rupture of a free liquid sheet

Kitavtsev G., Fontelos M., Eggers J.

Journal of Fluid Mechanics, vol.840, pp.555-578, 2018 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 840
  • Publication Date: 2018
  • Doi Number: 10.1017/jfm.2018.74
  • Journal Name: Journal of Fluid Mechanics
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.555-578
  • Keywords: interfacial flows (free surface), microfluidics, slender-body theory
  • Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus Affiliated: No

Abstract

We consider a free liquid sheet, taking into account the dependence of surface tension on the temperature or concentration of some pollutant. The sheet dynamics are described within a long-wavelength description. In the presence of viscosity, local thinning of the sheet is driven by a strong temperature gradient across the pinch region, resembling a shock. As a result, for long times the sheet thins exponentially, leading to breakup. We describe the quasi-one-dimensional thickness, velocity and temperature profiles in the pinch region in terms of similarity solutions, which possess a universal structure. Our analytical description agrees quantitatively with numerical simulations.