Droplet formation in the rupture of a liquid film under the action of a thermal load

The deformation and rupture of a liquid film, suspended between two solid walls, under the action of a localized thermal load is considered. For studying this process, a two-dimensional model is used, which describes the motion of a thin layer of a viscous non-isothermal liquid under microgravity conditions. For modeling the dynamics of the liquid, the Navier-Stokes equations in the “vorticity—stream function” variables are used. A numerical analysis of the influence of thermal loads on the deformation and the mechanism of the rupture of freely suspended films is performed. Is is shown that for a certain width of the thermal beam acting on the film free surface the rupture of the film may occur with the formation of a droplet. The results of the solution of model problems are presented.