Flow of thin films on patterned surfaces: Controlling the instability

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2002

Abstract

We present fully nonlinear time-dependent simulations of the gravity-driven flow of thin wetting liquid films. The computations of the flow on a homogeneous substrate show that the contact line, becomes unstable and develops a fingerlike or sawtooth structure [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 632 (2001)]. These computations are extended to patterned surfaces, where surface heterogeneities are introduced in a controllable manner. We discuss the conditions that need to be satisfied so that surface properties lead to predictable pattern formation and controllable wetting of the substrate. These conditions are sensitive to the presence of noise which is introduced by random perturbations of the contact line. We analyze this sensitivity and suggest how the effects of noise can be minimized. Applications of these results to technologically relevant flows are discussed. © 2002 The American Physical Society.

Identifier

37649032628 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Physical Review E Statistical Nonlinear and Soft Matter Physics

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.65.045301

e-ISSN

15502376

ISSN

15393755

First Page

045301/4

Issue

4

Volume

65

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