Viscous Film Flow down Corrugated Surfaces

A theoretical analysis of a downward viscous film flow on corrugated surfaces is reported. The study is based on Navier–Stokes equations (for one and twodimensional surfaces) and on an integral model (for a threedimensional surface with double corrugation). The calculations were carried out in a wide range of Reynolds numbers and geometric characteristics of the surface with due allowance for the surfacetension force. The shape of the free surface of the liquid film and other characteristics of the flow are calculated. It is shown that, in the case of a onedimensional surface, there exists a range of parameters where the flow is predominantly governed by surfacetension forces; this flow can be adequately treated with the integral approach. In this range of parameters, on the surface with double corrugation, the average quantities of the downward flow in wide corrugation valleys are determined by the finetexture geometry.