Julia Yeomans OBE FRS

Abstract:

We investigate the applicability of a mesoscale modeling approach, lattice Boltzmann simulations, to the problem of contact line motion in one- and two-component two phase fluids. In this, the second of two papers, we consider binary systems. We show that the contact line singularity is overcome by diffusion which is effective over a length scale L about the contact line and derive a scaling form for the dependence of L on system parameters.

Abstract:

We investigate the applicability of a mesoscale modeling approach, lattice Boltzmann simulations, to the problem of contact line motion in one and two component, two phase fluids. In this, the first of two papers, we consider liquid-gas systems. Careful implementation of the thermodynamic boundary condition allows us to fix the static contact angle in the simulations. We then consider the behavior of a sheared interface. We show that the contact line singularity is overcome by evaporation or condensation near the contact line which is driven by the curvature of the diffuse interface. An analytic approximation is derived for the angular position of a sheared interface.

Abstract:

We use a three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann model to investigate the spreading of mesoscopic droplets on homogeneous and heterogeneous surfaces. On a homogeneous substrate the base radius of the droplet grows with time as t 0.28 for a range of viscosities and surface tensions. The time evolutions collapse onto a single curve as a function of a dimensionless time. On a surface comprising of alternate lyophobic and lyophilic stripes the wetting velocity is anisotropic and the equilibrium shape of the droplet reflects the wetting properties of the underlying substrate. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.