Wave Regimes of Viscous Film Flow down a Vertical Cylinder

The flow of a viscous liquid film down a vertical cylinder in the gravity field is considered. In the case of small Reynolds numbers for long-wave perturbations on a cylinder of radius much greater than the film thickness, the problem can be reduced to a single nonlinear equation for the evolution of the film thickness perturbation. For axially symmetric solutions, this equation coincides with the well-known Sivashinsky-Kuramoto equation. The results of a numerical analysis of this equation for three-dimensional stationary traveling solutions of the problem are reported. The effect of the problem parameters on the solution behavior is demonstrated. Soliton type solutions are presented.     

Asymptotic model of slow three-dimensional liquid film flow in a space drop catcher

Slow steady-state film flows formed on the inner surface of a drop catcher funnel due to inertial deposition of drops of a dispersed working matter in the spacecraft cooling system are considered. A limiting asymptotic model of slow three-dimensional coolant film flow is constructed assuming that the deposited drops transfer all their mass, momentum, and energy to the film described by the equations of creeping viscous fluid flow in a thin layer of a priori unknown thickness. A first-order quasi-linear partial differential equation for the film thickness is derived. The shape of the film surface is investigated numerically as a function of parameters using the method of characteristics. The range of optimum parameters ensuring the steady-state film flow is found. The limits of existence of the solutions corresponding to the limiting model proposed are investigated.     

Minimum wetting rate for a decelerating liquid film

The paper presents an analytical study of a laminar decelerating liquid film falling along a vertical plate. Approximate solutions are obtained for the boundary layer within the film, film thickness, entrance length, and minimum wetting rate. It is shown that the analysis may be extended also to a film flowing over a horizontal cylinder. The theory is in reasonable agreement with the parametric trends observed in experiments on horizontal cylinders.     

A continuum model for size-dependent deformation of elastic films of nano-scale thickness

Ultra-thin elastic films of nano-scale thickness with an arbitrary geometry and edge boundary conditions are analyzed. An analytical model is proposed to study the size-dependent mechanical response of the film based on continuum surface elasticity. By using the transfer-matrix method along with an asymptotic expansion technique of small parameter, closed-form solutions for the mechanical field in the film is presented in terms of the displacements on the mid-plane. The asymptotic expansion terminates after a few terms and exact solutions are obtained. The mid-plane displacements are governed by three two-dimensional equations, and the associated edge boundary conditions can be prescribed on average. Solving the two-dimensional boundary value problem yields the three-dimensional response of the film. The solution is exact throughout the interior of the film with the exception of a thin boundary layer having an order of thickness as the film in accordance with the Saint-Venant’s principle.     

Transient Film Condensation on a Vertical Plate Imbedded in Porous Medium

The present paper introduces a mathematical model that simulates the transient film condensation on a vertical plate imbedded in a porous medium. In this model, the Brinkman-extended Darcy model is adopted and the local macroscopic inertial term is included. Analytical solutions are presented that describe the transient behavior of the condensate film thickness, condensate mass flow rate and heat transfer coefficient. The current results show the effect of the permeability of the porous material on several issues including the velocity profiles, the film thickness and the time required to reach steady state conditions.     

Investigation of the effect of the Coriolis force on a thin fluid film on a rotating disk

The effect of the Coriolis force on the evolution of a thin film of Newtonian fluid on a rotating disk is investigated. The thin-film approximation is made in which inertia terms in the Navier–Stokes equation are neglected. This requires that the thickness of the thin film be less than the thickness of the Ekman boundary layer in a rotating fluid of the same kinematic viscosity. A new first-order quasi-linear partial differential equation for the thickness of the thin film, which describes viscous, centrifugal and Coriolis-force effects, is derived. It extends an equation due to Emslie et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 29, 858 (1958)] which was obtained neglecting the Coriolis force. The problem is formulated as a Cauchy initial-value problem. As time increases the surface profile flattens and, if the initial profile is sufficiently negative, it develops a breaking wave. Numerical solutions of the new equation, obtained by integrating along its characteristic curves, are compared with analytical solutions of the equation of Emslie et al. to determine the effect of the Coriolis force on the surface flattening, the wave breaking and the streamlines when inertia terms are neglected.     

Buckling and postbuckling of a compressed thin film bonded on a soft elastic layer: a three-dimensional analysis

The wrinkling of a stiff thin film bonded on a soft elastic layer and subjected to an applied or residual compressive stress is investigated in the present paper. A three-dimensional theoretical model is presented to predict the buckling and postbuckling behavior of the film. We obtained the analytical solutions for the critical buckling condition and the postbuckling morphology of the film. The effects of the thicknesses and elastic properties of the film and the soft layer on the characteristic wrinkling wavelength are examined. It is found that the critical wrinkling condition of the thin film is sensitive to the compressibility and thickness of the soft layer, and its wrinkling amplitude depends on the magnitude of the applied or residual in-plane stress. The bonding condition between the soft layer and the rigid substrate has a considerable influence on the buckling of the thin film, and the relative sliding at the interface tends to destabilize the system.     

Steady wave regimes in a film of viscous liquid flowing down a vertical wall

A study is made of the steady wave solutions of the nonlinear third-order differential equation [1] that describes the behavior of the wave boundary of a thin film of viscous liquid flowing down a vertical wall. It is shown that for long waves of small amplitude the general equation can be reduced [2] to a form containing a unique dimensionless parameter. A qualitative investigation is made of the behavior of the integral curves and the types of the singular points in the phase space. It is shown that a solitary wave exists for discrete values of the dimensionless parameter. A numerical solution is obtained. The structure of the jump in the thickness of the film is investigated qualitatively. Numerical solutions of nonmonotonic structure are obtained for different parameters.     

The drainage and rupture of a non-foaming liquid film formed upon bubble impact with a free surface

Experiments are performed to measure the thickness of a thin liquid film formed between a free surface and the apex of a bubble which is approaching at its terminal velocity. Measurements are made using bubbles of < 1 mm dia both in distilled water and alcoholic solutions (methanol, ethanol). The results of the experiments show that the models based on the lubrication approximation fail to predict the initial stage of drainage. A better agreement is obtained by modifying the model proposed by Chesters.     

Thickness effect of a thin film on the stress field due to the eigenstrain of an ellipsoidal inclusion

Solutions of the stress field due to the eigenstrain of an ellipsoidal inclusion in the film/substrate half-space are obtained via the Fourier transforms and Stroh eigenrelation equations. Based on the acquired solutions, the effect of a thin film’s thickness on the stress field is investigated with two types of ellipsoidal inclusions considered. The results in this paper show that if the thickness of the thin film increases, its effect on the stress field will become weaker, and can even be neglected. In the end, a guide rule is introduced to simplify the calculation of similar problems in engineering.     

A mathematical model and numerical solution technique for a novel adjustable hydrodynamic bearing

An analysis model for a novel adjustable hydrodynamic fluid film bearing is described. The principles of hydrodynamic lubrication are outlined together with an expanded version of the governing pressure field equation as related to the novel bearing. Finite difference approximations are given for the pressure field equation and a temperature model, both related to the fluid film thickness. Relationships of viscosity with temperature and pressure are included. A finite element model and an iterative computational process are described, whereby full simultaneously converged field solutions for fluid film thickness, temperature, viscosity and pressure were obtained, together with oil film forces. The model and solution process were developed to apply to a variety of hydrodynamic bearings and an outline is given of its extensive use in the design and simulation of one version of the novel bearing. Observations are given on the operation, success rates and verifications of the computational process. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Developed steady wave motions of a liquid film falling along a vertical plane

The falling of a thin viscous fluid layer (film) along a vertical plane under the effect of gravity is accompanied by wave motions in which capillary forces play an essential part. An equation for the film thickness h(x, t) is used extensively in analyses of these motions. This equation, obtained from the Navier—Stokes equations and the boundary conditions under different assumptions, reduces to an ordinary third-order nonlinear differential equation [1–7] for steady plane motions. Periodic solutions of this equation were sought by the methods of asymptotic expansions in the amplitude or by Fourier series expansions [1–7], which assumes a sequential accounting of the nonlinearity as a small perturbation. This limits the validity of the results obtained to the domain of small amplitudes. The case of arbitrary amplitudes is considered in this paper. A solution of the problem, based on an asymptotic expansion in the parameter ε is constructed. In this expansion the equation for the first approximation remains nonlinear but admits of integration, which discloses the class of bounded periodic solutions. Moreover, strict integral relations (for any ε) are obtained, and a variational problem about seeking the lower bound of values of the mean film thickness and other characteristics of the ultimately developed optimal motions is formulated and solved on their basis. The results obtained agree with experiments.     

Self-similar regimes of liquid-layer spreading along a superhydrophobic surface

Within the Stokes film approximation, unsteady spreading of a thin layer of a heavy viscous fluid along a horizontal superhydrophobic surface is studied in the presence of a given localized mass supply in the film. The forced (induced by the mass supply) spreading regimes are considered, for which the surface tension effects are insignificant. Plane and axisymmetric flows along the principal direction of the slip tensor of the superhydrophobic surface are studied, when the corresponding slip tensor component is either a constant or a power function of the spatial coordinate, measured in the direction of spreading. An evolution equation for the film thickness is derived. It is shown that this equation has self-similar solutions of a source type. The examples of self-similar solutions are constructed for power and exponential time dependences of mass supply. In the final part of the paper, some of the solutions constructed are generalized to the case of a weak dependence of the flow on the second spatial coordinate, caused by a slight variability of the slip coefficient in the direction normal to that of spreading. The constructed self-similar solutions can be used for experimental determination of the parameters important for hydrodynamics, e.g. the slip tensor components of commercial superhydrophobic surfaces.     

A model for pressure loss, film thickness, and entrained fraction for gas-liquid annular flow

A two-component (air-water) annular flow model is presented requiring only flow rates, absolute pressure, temperature, and tube diameter. Film thicknesses (base film and wave height) are calculated from a critical film thickness model. Modeled pressure gradient is weighted by wave intermittency to compute average pressure gradient. Film flow rate and wave velocity are estimated using the universal velocity profile in the waves and a piecewise linear profile in the base film. For vertical flow, mean absolute errors for film thickness, wave velocity, and pressure gradient are 9%, 9%, and 19%, respectively. In horizontal flow, mean absolute errors for pressure gradient, base film thickness, and disturbance wave velocity are 17%, 10%, and 14%, respectively, on par with those from single-behavior models that require additional film thickness or other data as inputs.     

Nonlinearwaves in a liquid film-gas flow system

The instability and regular nonlinear waves in the film of a heavy viscous liquid flowing along the wall of a round tube and interacting with a gas flow are investigated. The solutions for the wave film flows are numerically obtained in the regimes from free flow-down in a counter-current gas stream to cocurrent upward flow of the film and the gas at fairly large gas velocities. Continuous transition from the counter-current to the cocurrent flow via the state with a maximum amplitude of nonlinear waves and zero values of the liquid flow rate and the phase velocity is investigated. The Kapitsa-Shkadov method is used to reduce a boundary value problem to a system of evolutionary equations for the local values of the layer thickness and the liquid flow rate.     

Effect of the electric field on the wave flow regimes of a thin film of a viscous dielectric fluid

Waves on the surface of a thin film of a viscous dielectric fluid flowing down the inner surface of one plate of a plane capacitor with alternating voltage applied is considered. It is shown that the volume forces acting from the inhomogeneous electric field are negligibly small in the case of long waves, and the influence of the electric field reduces to the influence of additional pressure onto the film surface. A model equation for determining the deviation of the film thickness from the undisturbed value is derived in the long-wave approximation. Some numerical solutions of this equation are given.     

考虑粗糙度和固体颗粒效应的直齿轮跑合瞬态热弹流润滑分析Transient thermal elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication of spur gears in running-in process considering solid particles and surface roughness

建立了含有固体颗粒的弹流数学模型,修正了Reynolds方程,考虑了连续波状粗糙度的影响,对跑合过程中直齿轮轮齿啮合区的弹流润滑进行了数值解算,分析了固体颗粒和粗糙度对压力、膜厚和温度的影响。结果表明,连续波状粗糙度会引起压力和膜厚一定幅度的上下波动,考虑固体颗粒后,压力变大,膜厚减小;颗粒速度越大,膜厚越小,最小膜厚减小,最大温升一定幅度减小,颗粒所在区域的温升减小;粗糙度波长较小时,粗糙度对膜厚较小的接触区引起的温升较大。     

Stability analysis of annular flow structure, using a discrete form of the “two-fluid model”

The differential form of the “two-fluid model” for annular flow, neglecting surface tension, is ill-posed, and it is not suited for examining the stability of the steady-state solutions with respect to the average film thickness. It is shown here that a discrete (difference) representation of the two-fluid model may lead to an appropriate criterion for the stability of the steady-state solutions. Exactly the same criterion is obtained from the requirement that the kinematic waves will propagate in the downstream direction. The suggested discrete form of the “two-fluid model” is used to perform transient simulation and for examining the system response to finite disturbances.     

Integral analysis of condensation in a paper drum with a scraper

An integral analysis is made for laminar film condensation in a rotating paper drum with a scraper. The analysis includes the nonlinear inertial terms in the equation of motion, with the interface shear stress being considered. The results of numerical solutions show that the inertial terms cannot be neglected except in the cases of a very thin condensate film or a very large Froude number, that the condensation heat transfer will be, to some extent, enhanced by the inertial effect, and that the vapor shear at the vapor-liquid interface proves to be negligible. Distributions of the interface velocity and film thickness as well as heat transfer results are obtained and discussed. Included also in this paper is the investigation for transition of the condensate flow from steady state to unsteady one. Received on 6 December 1996