| Abstract: | This paper describes a modified finite element method (MFEM) for determining the static equilibrium shape of the capillary surface of a liquid with a prescribed volume constrained by rigid boundaries with arbitrary shapes. It is assumed that the liquid is in static equilibrium under the influence of surface tension, adhesion, and gravity forces. This problem can be solved by employing the conventional FEM; however, a major difficulty arises due to the presence of the volume (integral) constraint and usually requires the use of the Lagrange multiplier method, the sequential unconstrained minimization technique, or the augmented Lagrange multiplier method. With the MFEM, the space variables defining the equilibrium surfaces (or curves) are expanded in terms of parametric interpolation functions, which are designed such that the boundary conditions and the integral constraint equation are automatically satisfied during each iteration of a direct numerical search process. Hence, there is no need to include Lagrange multipliers and/or penalty factors and the problem can be treated more simply as one involving unconstrained optimization. This investigation indicates that the MFEM is more efficient and reliable than the other methods. Results are presented for several case study problems involving liquid solder drops. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
