EFFECTS OF INERTIA ON THE DEFORMATION OF LIQUID-DROPS IN SIMPLE SHEAR-FLOW

Simple shear dow past a one-dimensional array of two-dimensional visco us drops with constant surface tension at small and moderate Reynolds numbers up to Re = 100 is considered in a Couette flow device. The def ormation of the drops from the initial circular shape is computed usin g a variation of Peskin's immersed boundary formulation in conjunction with a finite-difference method for solving the equations of two-dime nsional incompressible Newtonian dow. The results establish critical c apillary and Weber numbers far large elongation and breakup as functio ns of the Reynolds number. When the physical properties of the drops a re fixed, inertial effects tend to promote drop deformation. The kinem atic structure of the flow is discussed with reference to eddy formati on, distribution of wall shear stress, drag force exerted on the walls , and vorticity production at the interface.