THE WAVE-THINNING AND BREAKUP OF LIQUID SHEETS

In this study, the radially thinning liquid sheets formed by a simple splash plate nozzle were investigated. These sheets, observed using hi gh-speed video and 16 mm photography, were found to breakup by way of a localized rupture mechanism. The sheet is thinned by geometric disto rtion due to the radial expansion of the sheet and by stretching cause d by the presence of large amplitude sinuous waves. The downstream she et thickness in the wave-thinned region was calculated from experiment ally measured perforation growth rates. These thicknesses were found t o be about 12 percent of the predicted value for an undisturbed sheer. Trends in the downstream position at which significant thinning due t o sinuous waves is predicted to occur agree with trends in experimenta lly measured rates of hole formation.