Yuli Wang

Dynamic wetting of viscoelastic droplets.

We conduct numerical experiments on spreading of viscoelastic droplets on a flat surface. Our work considers a Giesekus fluid characterized by a shear-thinning viscosity and an Oldroyd-B fluid, which is close to a Boger fluid with constant viscosity. Our results qualitatively agree with experimental observations in that both shear thinning and elasticity enhances contact line motion, and that the contact line motion of the Boger fluid obeys the Tanner-Voinov-Hoffman relation. Excluding inertia, the spreading speed shows strong dependence on rheological properties, such as the viscosity ratio between the solvent and the polymer suspension, and the polymeric relaxation time. We also discuss how elasticity can affect contact line motion. The molecular migration theory proposed in the literature is not able to explain the agreement between our simulations and experimental results.

Effect of geometrical parameters on submerged cavitation jet discharged from profiled central-body nozzle

The flow characteristics of cavitation jets are essential issues among relevant studies. The physical properties of the jet are largely determined by the geometrical parameters of the nozzle. The structure and cavitation jets characteristics of the angular-nozzle and the self-resonating cavitation nozzle have been extensively studied, but little research is conducted in the central-body cavitation nozzle mainly because of its hard processing and the cavitation jet effect not satisfactory. In this paper, a novel central-body nozzle (a non-plunger central-body nozzle with square outlet) is studied to solve above problems. Submerged jets discharged from the novel central-body nozzle are simulated, employing the full cavitation model. The impact of nozzle configuration on jet properties is analyzed. The analysis results indicate that when central-body relative diameter keeps constant, there is an optimal contraction degree of nozzle’s outlet, which can induce intense cavitation in the jet. The central-body relative diameter also affects jet profiles. In the case of large central-body relative diameter, most of the bubbles settle in the jet core. On the contrary, a smaller relative diameter makes bubbles concentrate in the interface between the jet and its surrounding fluid. Moreover, the shorter outlet part allows the cavitation zone further extend in both the axial and racial directions. The research results further consummate the study on the central-body nozzles and the correlation between cavitation jet and the structure, and elementarily reveal the mechanism of cavitation jet produced in a non-plunger novel central-body nozzle and the effect of the structure parameters on the cavitation jet, moreover, provide the theoretical basis for the optimal design of the nozzle.

Viscoelastic droplet dynamics in a y-shaped capillary channel

Non-Newtonian droplet dynamics commonly exist in microfluidic systems. We report simulations of viscoelastic (VE) droplets traveling in a two dimensional capillary bifurcation channel. A numerical system combining phase field method, VE rheology, and Stokes flow equations is built. As a generic microfluidic two-phase problem, we study how a non-Newtonian droplet that approaches a channel bifurcation will behave. We identify conditions for when a droplet will either split into two or be directed into one of the branches. In particular, we study the importance of the non-Newtonian properties. Our results reveal two different non-Newtonian mechanisms that can enhance splitting and non-splitting of droplets with respect to Newtonian droplets, depending on the size of droplet and capillary number.

The acquisition and measurement of surface waves of high-speed liquid jets

The instability analysis of the liquid jet issuing into ambient air was conducted with an emphasis placed upon the evolution of surface waves of the jet. An experiment was designed to visualize the microscopic morphology on the surface of a liquid jet. A spectral method was proposed to measure wavelength from the obtained jet images. We also discuss key setup parameters that significantly affect the resolution of desired jet features and the accuracy of the spectral measurement. The results show that the liquid jet near the nozzle exit can be divided into a laminar section, a transition section, an instability section, and a turbulence section. Surface wave scales range from 0.06 to 0.11 times of the nozzle diameter with the atomization breakup regime. For the atomization breakup regime, the growth ratio of the surface waves of the instability section is 0.06 which is 1.5 times the value of the second wind-introduced breakup regime and 3 times the value of the first wind-introduced breakup regime.Graphical abstract

Experimental study of jet surface structures and the influence of nozzle configuration

Under the three breakup regimes, the jet surface waves of different nozzles are captured and measured. The nozzles have different length to diameter ratios and contraction angles. The measured wavelengths are compared with the reported conclusions which were obtained by using spatial and temporal linear stability analysis. The results show that the jet wavelengths of different breakup regimes are covered by a single curve when the wavelengths are non-dimensionalized with boundary layer thickness. For the nozzle with equal length and diameter, the entire translation section starts at Re = 3 × 104 and ends at Re = 4.5 × 104. The wavelength non-dimensionalized with boundary layer thickness is independent of nozzle configuration. The ratio of initial wavelength to boundary layer thickness ranges from 2 to 4.

Wavelength measurement of a liquid jet based on spectral analysis of image intensity

The instability analysis of the liquid jet issuing into ambient gas was conducted with the emphasis placed upon the evolution of surface wave on the jet surface. First, an experimental method was developed to visualize the microscopic surface wave on the liquid jet. Camera setting parameters significantly affecting the detection of desired jet features were discussed. Second, a spectral method was applied to process the obtained jet images. The accuracy of this method was validated in several ways. The results show that wavelengths increase monotonically along the streamwise direction and decrease with the increase in Reynolds number which corresponds to the boundary layer momentum thickness at nozzle exit. Various patterns of wave structures on jet surface are revealed. In this article, the pattern transforms from three-dimensional to two-dimensional at Reynolds number of 134.53.

Effect of Interfacial Flow on the Coherency of Ultra-High Speed Water Jet in Air

Water jet cutting is a novel machining technology. Effective jet cutting requires a highly coherent jet to achieve a perfect surface finish. However, the jet breaks up just in a short distance downstream the nozzle exit. Interfacial shear is considered to have a dominate effect on the jet surface instability and its breakup. This work focuses on the turbulence both in the jet and its ambient air. The Fluent code is employed to simulate the air-water flow inside and outside a jet cutting nozzle. We get insight into the original interfacial turbulence near the nozzle exit. The contribution of the interfacial flow to the jet coherency is analyzed. It is expected the original turbulence can be reduced by changing the shape of nozzle exit. Several nozzles with different configurations in their outlets are tested both experimentally and numerically. Through these work, it is found that the jet is more coherent as the air flow is more consistent with the jet flow in the nozzle tip. The cone-down with modest cone angle in nozzle outlet is an appealing design for creating a fine jet.Copyright