Study of waves on thin liquid films sheared by turbulent gas flows

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Phys. Fluids A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.857553· OSTI ID:6532262

Jurman, L A; McCready, M J

Waves that occur at the interface of a thin, horizontal liquid film sheared by a concurrent turbulent gas flow are investigated. Observations using liquids in the range of 13--15 cP indicate that broad-crested, steady, periodic waves appear as the gas velocity is increased above the point of neutral stability. For a sufficiently large gas Reynolds number, steady solitary waves appear. These travel at speeds significantly faster than the periodic waves. However, if the liquid flow rate is increased, solitary waves do not form. To quantitatively describe the waves, a weakly nonlinear wave equation is derived using boundary-layer approximations. The equation is valid for liquid Reynolds numbers of O (1--100) and reveals the presence of both kinematic and dynamic processes, which may (i) act together or (ii) singularly dominate the wave field. For the latter case, reduced forms of the evolution equation are derived. Linear stability analysis of the complete equation and its reduced forms is used to determine the parameter ranges where either dynamic or kinematic processes dominate. The evolution equation in its nonlinear forms should be capable of describing and predicting the amplitudes, shapes, and interactions of finite amplitude waves.

• Research Organization: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
• OSTI ID: 6532262
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids A; (United States) Vol. 1:3; ISSN PFADE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640410* -- Fluid Physics-- General Fluid Dynamics
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
AMPLITUDES
COUPLING
EQUATIONS
FILMS
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GAS FLOW
GASES
INTERFACES
LIQUIDS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
QUASI PARTICLES
REYNOLDS NUMBER
SHAPE
SOLITONS
STABILITY
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
THIN FILMS
TURBULENT FLOW