Computational investigation of unusual behavior in certain capillary tubes

Journal Article · Fri Mar 12 00:00:00 EST 2004 · Microgravity Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02870966· OSTI ID:838047

Brady, Victor; Concus, Paul; Finn, Robert

We investigate computationally two recent mathematical findings involving unusual behavior of solutions of the Young-Laplace capillary equation in cylindrical tubes of particular sections. The first concerns a configuration for which smoothing of the boundary curve at a sharp corner leads from existence to non-existence of a solution over the container section in zero gravity. The second describes a discontinuous behavior of relative rise height in nesting tubes placed vertically in an infinite reservoir. The numerical results support and quantify the mathematical predictions.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director. Office of Science. Office of Computational and Technology Research; National Science Foundation Grants DMS-0103954 and DMS-0103937; Max-Planck-Institut fur Mathematik in den Naturwissenschaften (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 838047
• Report Number(s): LBNL-54723; R&D Project: 619701; TRN: US200507%%278
• Journal Information: Microgravity Science and Technology, Vol. XV, Issue 4; Other Information: Submitted to Microgravity Science and Technology: Volume XV, No.4; Journal Publication Date: 2004; PBD: 12 Mar 2004
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
CONFIGURATION
CONTAINERS
WEIGHTLESSNESS