Three-dimensional numerical analysis of the deformation behavior of droplets impinging onto a solid substrate

The collision dynamics of water droplets impacting onto a solid is studied by means of three-dimensional computer simulations. The Navier-Stokes equations for unsteady, incompressible, viscous fluids in the three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system are approximated and solved by a finite difference method. The volume-of-fluid (VOF) technique is used to track the free liquid surface. Normal and oblique collisions of droplets with the substrate are simulated at low droplet impact inertia. The effect of impact angle on the deformation behavior of droplets is investigated. The experimental observations and the numerical results are in reasonable agreement. Theoretical aspects of the physics of the collision phenomena are addressed. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.