On the instability of microjets

Stephen Decent

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The instability of an axisymmetric viscous liquid jet in a gas or in a vacuum is examined using the interface formation theory. This model allows for variable surface tension at constant temperature, generalising the classical continuum formulation by using irreversible thermodynamics. Steady-state solutions are determined and found to be unstable to a travelling wave that propagates down the liquid jet, causing the jet to break-up into drops. The linear instability results are compared to those of the classical formulation. These are especially found to differ when the jets are on the micron scale. This will give rise to significantly revised predictions in some parameter ranges for the break-up length and droplet sizes produced by microjets. Comparisons with molecular dynamics simulations are also presented, with encouraging results. Finally, the dependence of the results on the initial conditions is discussed.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)525-543
Number of pages19
JournalContinuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics
Volume17
Issue number7
Early online date24 Mar 2006
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2006

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