Numerical simulation of droplet deformation in convective flows

Abstract

A computational model based on an arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerian numerical algorithm is developed for flows separated by a free surface where the surface tension force is important. This model is used to study deformation and oscillation of cylindrical/spherical droplets with and without external forced convection. The calculated frequency of droplet oscillation agrees well with the analytical value derived from perturbation analysis, and the amplitude of oscillation does not decay with time, which indicates that numerical diffusion and damping do not exist in the adopted algorithm