The physics of aerobreakup. III. Viscoelastic liquids

Abstract

We extend the work of Theofanous and Li [Phys. Fluids 20, 052103 (2008)10.1063/1.2907989] on aerobreakup physics of water-like, low viscosity liquid drops, and of Theofanous et al. [Phys. Fluids 24, 022104 (2012)10.1063/1.3680867] for Newtonian liquids of any viscosity, to polymer-thickened liquids over wide ranges of viscoelasticity. The scope includes the full range of aerodynamics from near incompressible to supersonic flows and visualizations are recorded with μs/μm resolutions. The key physics of Rayleigh-Taylor piercing (RTP, first criticality) and of Shear-Induced Entrainment (SIE, second criticality) are verified and quantified on the same scaling approach as in our previous work, but with modifications due to the shear-thinning and elastic nature of these liquids. The same holds for the onset of surface waves by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, which is a key attribute of the second criticality. However, in the present case, even at conditions well-past the first criticality, there is no breakup (particulation) to be found; instead the apparently unstable (extensively stretched into sheets) drops rebound elastically to reconstitute an integral mass. Such a resistance to breakup is found also past the second criticality, now with extensive filament formation that maintain a significant degree of cohesiveness, until the gas-dynamic pressure is high enough to cause filament ruptures. Thereby we define the onset of a third criticality peculiar to viscoelastic liquids—SIER, for SIE with ruptures. Past this criticality the extent of particulation increases and the characteristic dimension of fragments generated decreases in a more or less continuous fashion with increasing dynamic pressure. We outline a rheology-based scaling approach for these elasticity-modulated phenomena and suggest a path to similitude (with polymer and solvent variations) in terms of a critical rupture stress that can be measured independently. The advanced stages of breakup and resulting particle clouds are observed and a clear definition and quantification of breakup time is offered.