Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian method for computation of impinging droplet with soluble surfactants and dynamic contact angle

Sashikumaar Ganesan

Published 2014-10-09Version 1

An arbitrary Lagrangian--Eulerian (ALE) finite element scheme for computations of soluble surfactant droplet impingement on a horizontal surface is presented. The numerical scheme solves the time-dependent Navier--Stokes equations for the fluid flow, scalar convection-diffusion equation for the surfactant transport in the bulk phase, and simultaneously, surface evolution equations for the surfactants on the free surface and on the liquid-solid interface. The effects of surfactants on the flow dynamics are included into the model through the surfactant-dependent surface tension and dynamic contact angle. In particular, the dynamic contact angle of the droplet is defined as a function of surfactants using the nonlinear equation of state for surface tension. Further, the surface forces are included in the model using the Boussinesq-Scriven law that allows to incorporate the Marangoni effects without evaluating the gradients of surfactant concentration on the free surface. In addition to a mesh convergence study and a validation of the numerical results with experiments, the effects of adsorption and desorption surfactant coefficients on the flow dynamics in wetting, partially wetting and non-wetting droplets are studied in detail. It is observed that the effect of surfactants are more in wetting droplets than in the non-wetting droplets. Further, the surfactant reduces the equilibrium contact angle further when it is less than $90^\circ$, and increases further when it is more than $90^\circ$. The surfactants has no effect on the contact angle, when its value is $90^\circ$. The numerical study clearly demonstrates that the surfactant-dependent contact angle has to be considered, in addition to the Marangoni effect, in order to study the flow dynamics and the equilibrium states of surfactant droplet impingement accurately.