Thin films flowing down inverted substrates: Two dimensional flow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2010

Abstract

We consider free surface instabilities of films flowing on inverted substrates within the framework of lubrication approximation. We allow for the presence of fronts and related contact lines and explore the role which they play in instability development. It is found that a contact line, modeled by a commonly used precursor film model, leads to free surface instabilities without any additional natural or excited perturbations. A single parameter D=(3 Ca)1/3cot α, where Ca is the capillary number and α is the inclination angle, is identified as a governing parameter in the problem. This parameter may be interpreted to reflect the combined effect of inclination angle, film thickness, Reynolds number, and fluid flux. Variation of D leads to change in the wavelike properties of the instabilities, allowing us to observe traveling wave behavior, mixed waves, and the waves resembling solitary ones. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Identifier

77955621555 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Physics of Fluids

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3428753

ISSN

10706631

First Page

1

Last Page

10

Issue

5

Volume

22

Grant

DMS-0908158

Fund Ref

National Science Foundation

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