scholarly journals Moving contact line dynamics: from diffuse to sharp interfaces

2015 ◽  
Vol 788 ◽  
pp. 209-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kusumaatmaja ◽  
E. J. Hemingway ◽  
S. M. Fielding
Keyword(s):  
Excellent Agreement ◽  
Contact Line ◽  
Scaling Laws ◽  
Slip Length ◽  
Dynamic Contact Angle ◽  
Sharp Interface ◽  
Diffuse Interface ◽  
Fluid Viscosity ◽  
Moving Contact Line ◽  
Moving Contact

We reconcile two scaling laws that have been proposed in the literature for the slip length associated with a moving contact line in diffuse interface models, by demonstrating each to apply in a different regime of the ratio of the microscopic interfacial width $l$ and the macroscopic diffusive length $l_{D}=(M{\it\eta})^{1/2}$, where ${\it\eta}$ is the fluid viscosity and $M$ the mobility governing intermolecular diffusion. For small $l_{D}/l$ we find a diffuse interface regime in which the slip length scales as ${\it\xi}\sim (l_{D}l)^{1/2}$. For larger $l_{D}/l>1$ we find a sharp interface regime in which the slip length depends only on the diffusive length, ${\it\xi}\sim l_{D}\sim (M{\it\eta})^{1/2}$, and therefore only on the macroscopic variables ${\it\eta}$ and $M$, independent of the microscopic interfacial width $l$. We also give evidence that modifying the microscopic interfacial terms in the model’s free energy functional appears to affect the value of the slip length only in the diffuse interface regime, consistent with the slip length depending only on macroscopic variables in the sharp interface regime. Finally, we demonstrate the dependence of the dynamic contact angle on the capillary number to be in excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction of Cox (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 168, 1986, p. 169), provided we allow the slip length to be rescaled by a dimensionless prefactor. This prefactor appears to converge to unity in the sharp interface limit, but is smaller in the diffuse interface limit. The excellent agreement of results obtained using three independent numerical methods, across several decades of the relevant dimensionless variables, demonstrates our findings to be free of numerical artefacts.

Sharp-interface limit of the Cahn–Hilliard model for moving contact lines

2010 ◽  
Vol 645 ◽  
pp. 279-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
PENGTAO YUE ◽  
CHUNFENG ZHOU ◽  
JAMES J. FENG
Keyword(s):  
Contact Line ◽  
Diffusion Length ◽  
Slip Length ◽  
Sharp Interface ◽  
Diffuse Interface ◽  
Contact Lines ◽  
Sharp Interface Limit ◽  
Interface Models ◽  
Moving Contact ◽  
Moving Contact Lines

Diffuse-interface models may be used to compute moving contact lines because the Cahn–Hilliard diffusion regularizes the singularity at the contact line. This paper investigates the basic questions underlying this approach. Through scaling arguments and numerical computations, we demonstrate that the Cahn–Hilliard model approaches a sharp-interface limit when the interfacial thickness is reduced below a threshold while other parameters are fixed. In this limit, the contact line has a diffusion length that is related to the slip length in sharp-interface models. Based on the numerical results, we propose a criterion for attaining the sharp-interface limit in computing moving contact lines.

scholarly journals Validation and modification of asymptotic analysis of slow and rapid droplet spreading by numerical simulation

2013 ◽  
Vol 715 ◽  
pp. 283-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Sui ◽  
Peter D. M. Spelt
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Asymptotic Analysis ◽  
Contact Line ◽  
Slip Length ◽  
Interface Shape ◽  
Droplet Spreading ◽  
Moving Contact Line ◽  
Moving Contact ◽  
Line Region ◽  
Modified Theory

AbstractUsing a slip-length-based level-set approach with adaptive mesh refinement, we have simulated axisymmetric droplet spreading for a dimensionless slip length down to $O(1{0}^{\ensuremath{-} 4} )$. The main purpose is to validate, and where necessary improve, the asymptotic analysis of Cox (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 357, 1998, pp. 249–278) for rapid droplet spreading/dewetting, in terms of the detailed interface shape in various regions close to the moving contact line and the relation between the apparent angle and the capillary number based on the instantaneous contact-line speed, $\mathit{Ca}$. Before presenting results for inertial spreading, simulation results are compared in detail with the theory of Hocking & Rivers (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 121, 1982, pp. 425–442) for slow spreading, showing that these agree very well (and in detail) for such small slip-length values, although limitations in the theoretically predicted interface shape are identified; a simple extension of the theory to viscous exterior fluids is also proposed and shown to yield similar excellent agreement. For rapid droplet spreading, it is found that, in principle, the theory of Cox can predict accurately the interface shapes in the intermediate viscous sublayer, although the inviscid sublayer can only be well presented when capillary-type waves are outside the contact-line region. However, $O(1)$ parameters taken to be unity by Cox must be specified and terms be corrected to ${\mathit{Ca}}^{+ 1} $ in order to achieve good agreement between the theory and the simulation, both of which are undertaken here. We also find that the apparent angle from numerical simulation, obtained by extrapolating the interface shape from the macro region to the contact line, agrees reasonably well with the modified theory of Cox. A simplified version of the inertial theory is proposed in the limit of negligible viscosity of the external fluid. Building on these results, weinvestigate the flow structure near the contact line, the shear stress and pressure along the wall, and the use of the analysis for droplet impact and rapid dewetting. Finally, we compare the modified theory of Cox with a recent experiment for rapid droplet spreading, the results of which suggest a spreading-velocity-dependent dynamic contact angle in the experiments. The paper is closed with a discussion of the outlook regarding the potential of using the present results in large-scale simulations wherein the contact-line region is not resolved down to the slip length, especially for inertial spreading.

scholarly journals Moving contact line on chemically patterned surfaces

2008 ◽  
Vol 605 ◽  
pp. 59-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
XIAO-PING WANG ◽  
TIEZHENG QIAN ◽  
PING SHENG
Keyword(s):  
Contact Line ◽  
Critical Value ◽  
Diffuse Interface ◽  
Patterned Surfaces ◽  
Fluid Interface ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Stick Slip ◽  
Moving Contact Line ◽  
Moving Contact ◽  
Wetting Fluid

We simulate the moving contact line in two-dimensional chemically patterned channels using a diffuse-interface model with the generalized Navier boundary condition. The motion of the fluid–fluid interface in confined immiscible two-phase flows is modulated by the chemical pattern on the top and bottom surfaces, leading to a stick–slip behaviour of the contact line. The extra dissipation induced by this oscillatory contact-line motion is significant and increases rapidly with the wettability contrast of the pattern. A critical value of the wettability contrast is identified above which the effect of diffusion becomes important, leading to the interesting behaviour of fluid–fluid interface breaking, with the transport of the non-wetting fluid being assisted and mediated by rapid diffusion through the wetting fluid. Near the critical value, the time-averaged extra dissipation scales as U, the displacement velocity. By decreasing the period of the pattern, we show the solid surface to be characterized by an effective contact angle whose value depends on the material characteristics and composition of the patterned surfaces.

Sliding, pinch-off and detachment of a droplet on a wall in shear flow

2010 ◽  
Vol 644 ◽  
pp. 217-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
HANG DING ◽  
MOHAMMAD N. H. GILANI ◽  
PETER D. M. SPELT
Keyword(s):  
Shear Flow ◽  
Contact Line ◽  
Contact Angle Hysteresis ◽  
Stress Singularity ◽  
Local Maximum ◽  
Diffuse Interface ◽  
Moving Contact Line ◽  
Moving Contact ◽  
Effective Slip Length ◽  
Maximum Angle

We investigate here what happens beyond the onset of motion of a droplet on a wall by the action of an imposed shear flow, accounting for inertial effects and contact-angle hysteresis. A diffuse-interface method is used for this purpose, which alleviates the shear stress singularity at a moving contact line, resulting in an effective slip length. Various flow regimes are investigated, including steadily moving drops, and partial or entire droplet entrainment. In the regime of quasi-steadily moving drops, the drop speed is found to be linear in the imposed shear rate, but to exhibit an apparent discontinuity at the onset of motion. The results also include the relation between a local maximum angle between the interface and the wall and the instantaneous value of the contact-line speed. The critical conditions for the onset of entrainment are determined for pinned as well as for moving drops. The corresponding critical capillary numbers are found to be in a rather narrow range, even for quite substantial values of a Reynolds number. The approach to breakup is then investigated in detail, including the growth of a ligament on a drop, and the reduction of the radius of a pinching neck. A model based on an energy argument is proposed to explain the results for the rate of elongation of ligaments. The paper concludes with an investigation of detachment of a hydrophobic droplet from the solid wall.

Slipping moving contact lines: critical roles of de Gennes’s ‘foot’ in dynamic wetting

2019 ◽  
Vol 873 ◽  
pp. 110-150
Author(s):  
Hsien-Hung Wei ◽  
Heng-Kwong Tsao ◽  
Kang-Ching Chu
Keyword(s):  
Contact Angle ◽  
Contact Line ◽  
Capillary Number ◽  
Dynamic Contact Angle ◽  
Wall Slip ◽  
Dynamic Contact ◽  
Colloid Interface ◽  
Dynamic Wetting ◽  
Moving Contact Line ◽  
Moving Contact

In the context of dynamic wetting, wall slip is often treated as a microscopic effect for removing viscous stress singularity at a moving contact line. In most drop spreading experiments, however, a considerable amount of slip may occur due to the use of polymer liquids such as silicone oils, which may cause significant deviations from the classical Tanner–de Gennes theory. Here we show that many classical results for complete wetting fluids may no longer hold due to wall slip, depending crucially on the extent of de Gennes’s slipping ‘foot’ to the relevant length scales at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels. At the macroscopic level, we find that for given liquid height $h$ and slip length $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}$, the apparent dynamic contact angle $\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}_{d}$ can change from Tanner’s law $\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}_{d}\sim Ca^{1/3}$ for $h\gg \unicode[STIX]{x1D706}$ to the strong-slip law $\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}_{d}\sim Ca^{1/2}\,(L/\unicode[STIX]{x1D706})^{1/2}$ for $h\ll \unicode[STIX]{x1D706}$, where $Ca$ is the capillary number and $L$ is the macroscopic length scale. Such a no-slip-to-slip transition occurs at the critical capillary number $Ca^{\ast }\sim (\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}/L)^{3}$, accompanied by the switch of the ‘foot’ of size $\ell _{F}\sim \unicode[STIX]{x1D706}Ca^{-1/3}$ from the inner scale to the outer scale with respect to $L$. A more generalized dynamic contact angle relationship is also derived, capable of unifying Tanner’s law and the strong-slip law under $\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}\ll L/\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}_{d}$. We not only confirm the two distinct wetting laws using many-body dissipative particle dynamics simulations, but also provide a rational account for anomalous departures from Tanner’s law seen in experiments (Chen, J. Colloid Interface Sci., vol. 122, 1988, pp. 60–72; Albrecht et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 68, 1992, pp. 3192–3195). We also show that even for a common spreading drop with small macroscopic slip, slip effects can still be microscopically strong enough to change the microstructure of the contact line. The structure is identified to consist of a strongly slipping precursor film of length $\ell \sim (a\unicode[STIX]{x1D706})^{1/2}Ca^{-1/2}$ followed by a mesoscopic ‘foot’ of width $\ell _{F}\sim \unicode[STIX]{x1D706}Ca^{-1/3}$ ahead of the macroscopic wedge, where $a$ is the molecular length. It thus turns out that it is the ‘foot’, rather than the film, contributing to the microscopic length in Tanner’s law, in accordance with the experimental data reported by Kavehpour et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 91, 2003, 196104) and Ueno et al. (Trans. ASME J. Heat Transfer, vol. 134, 2012, 051008). The advancement of the microscopic contact line is still led by the film whose length can grow as the $1/3$ power of time due to $\ell$, as supported by the experiments of Ueno et al. and Mate (Langmuir, vol. 28, 2012, pp. 16821–16827). The present work demonstrates that the behaviour of a moving contact line can be strongly influenced by wall slip. Such slip-mediated dynamic wetting might also provide an alternative means for probing slippery surfaces.

Moving contact lines in liquid/liquid/solid systems

1997 ◽  
Vol 334 ◽  
pp. 211-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
YULII D. SHIKHMURZAEV
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Surface Tension ◽  
Contact Angle ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Contact Line ◽  
Dynamic Contact Angle ◽  
Dynamic Contact ◽  
Moving Contact Line ◽  
Moving Contact ◽  
Three Phase

A general mathematical model which describes the motion of an interface between immiscible viscous fluids along a smooth homogeneous solid surface is examined in the case of small capillary and Reynolds numbers. The model stems from a conclusion that the Young equation, σ1 cos θ = σ2 − σ3, which expresses the balance of tangential projection of the forces acting on the three-phase contact line in terms of the surface tensions σi and the contact angle θ, together with the well-established experimental fact that the dynamic contact angle deviates from the static one, imply that the surface tensions of contacting interfaces in the immediate vicinity of the contact line deviate from their equilibrium values when the contact line is moving. The same conclusion also follows from the experimentally observed kinematics of the flow, which indicates that liquid particles belonging to interfaces traverse the three-phase interaction zone (i.e. the ‘contact line’) in a finite time and become elements of another interface – hence their surface properties have to relax to new equilibrium values giving rise to the surface tension gradients in the neighbourhood of the moving contact line. The kinematic picture of the flow also suggests that the contact-line motion is only a particular case of a more general phenomenon – the process of interface formation or disappearance – and the corresponding mathematical model should be derived from first principles for this general process and then applied to wetting as well as to other relevant flows. In the present paper, the simplest theory which uses this approach is formulated and applied to the moving contact-line problem. The model describes the true kinematics of the flow so that it allows for the ‘splitting’ of the free surface at the contact line, the appearance of the surface tension gradients near the contact line and their influence upon the contact angle and the flow field. An analytical expression for the dependence of the dynamic contact angle on the contact-line speed and parameters characterizing properties of contacting media is derived and examined. The role of a ‘thin’ microscopic residual film formed by adsorbed molecules of the receding fluid is considered. The flow field in the vicinity of the contact line is analysed. The results are compared with experimental data obtained for different fluid/liquid/solid systems.

The moving contact line: the slip boundary condition

1976 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 665-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. B. Dussan V.
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Condition ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Contact Line ◽  
Slip Length ◽  
Slip Boundary Condition ◽  
Flow Fields ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Slip Boundary ◽  
Moving Contact Line ◽  
Moving Contact

The singularity at the contact line which is present when the usual fluidmechanical modelling assumptions are made is removed by permitting the fluid to slip along the wall. The aim of this study is to assess the sensitivity of the overall flow field to the form of the slip boundary condition. Explicit solutions are obtained for three different slip boundary conditions. Two length scales emerge: the slip length scale and the meniscus length scale. It is found that on the slip length scale the flow fields are quite different; however, when viewed on the meniscus length scale, i.e. the length scale on which almost all fluidmechanical measurements are made, all of the flow fields appear the same. It is found that the characteristic of the slip boundary condition which affects the overall flow field is the magnitude of the slip length.

scholarly journals The asymptotics of the moving contact line: cracking an old nut

2015 ◽  
Vol 764 ◽  
pp. 445-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
David N. Sibley ◽  
Andreas Nold ◽  
Serafim Kalliadasis
Keyword(s):  
Contact Line ◽  
Stokes Flow ◽  
Slip Length ◽  
Intermediate Region ◽  
Droplet Spreading ◽  
Flow Equations ◽  
Moving Contact Line ◽  
Perturbation Problem ◽  
Moving Contact ◽  
New Perspective

AbstractFor contact line motion where the full Stokes flow equations hold, full matched asymptotic solutions using slip models have been obtained for droplet spreading and more general geometries. These solutions to the singular perturbation problem in the slip length, however, all involve matching through an intermediate region that is taken to be separate from the outer–inner regions. Here, we show that the intermediate region is in fact an overlap region representing extensions of both the outer and the inner region, allowing direct matching to proceed. In particular, we investigate in detail how a previously seen result of the matching of the cubes of the free surface slope is justified in the lubrication setting. We also extend this two-region direct matching to the more general Stokes flow case, offering a new perspective on the asymptotics of the moving contact line problem.

Numerical Simulation for Moving Contact Line with Continuous Finite Element Schemes

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongyue Jiang ◽  
Ping Lin ◽  
Zhenlin Guo ◽  
Shuangling Dong
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Contact Line ◽  
Immiscible Fluids ◽  
Diffuse Interface ◽  
Discrete Energy ◽  
Moving Contact Line ◽  
Moving Contact ◽  
Pressure Variable ◽  
Model Equations ◽  
The Stability

AbstractIn this paper, we compute a phase field (diffuse interface) model of Cahn-Hilliard type for moving contact line problems governing the motion of isothermal multiphase incompressible fluids. The generalized Navier boundary condition proposed by Qian et al. [1] is adopted here. We discretize model equations using a continuous finite element method in space and a modified midpoint scheme in time. We apply a penalty formulation to the continuity equation which may increase the stability in the pressure variable. Two kinds of immiscible fluids in a pipe and droplet displacement with a moving contact line under the effect of pressure driven shear flow are studied using a relatively coarse grid. We also derive the discrete energy law for the droplet displacement case, which is slightly different due to the boundary conditions. The accuracy and stability of the scheme are validated by examples, results and estimate order.

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