Simulation Analysis on the Profiles of Droplets Wetting on the Substrates

To study the structural characteristics and physical properties of droplets sitting on the inclined substrates and cylindrical surfaces, wetting experiments are conducted in different cases. The profile curves of the droplets are recorded and extracted by a CCD camera and image processing, respectively. Contact angles are figured out by fitting the profile curves and taking the derivative at the front and rear triple points. Based on the experimental results, a Surface Evolver is employed to simulate the morphological changes by minimizing the total energy of the system. Furthermore, theoretical shapes and feature parameters, including the heights and the spreading distances of the droplets, which are hard to obtain by normal experimental measurements are provided. The contact-angle hysteresis when the heavy droplet sitting on the inclined substrate is discussed. Meanwhile, the evolutions of the contour of the three-phase contact line are predicted when heavy droplets spread on the convex and concave cylindrical surfaces, respectively. This study provides a finite-element analysis method to describe the surface properties of molten droplets on different substrates, and the simulation results agree well with the experimental results.