Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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DY: Fachverband Dynamik und Statistische Physik

DY 32: Fluid Dynamics

DY 32.6: Talk

Friday, March 26, 2010, 11:30–11:45, H47

A phase field description of Rayleigh-Taylor instability with evaporation — •Rodica Borcia and Michael Bestehorn — Lehrstuhl Statistische Physik/ Nichtlineare Dynamik, Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus, Germany

We investigate numerically a thin liquid film under gravity effects on the underside of a cooled horizontal plate. Initially, the flat liquid film is in equilibrium with its own vapor in the gas phase below. If the free surface of the thin film is deflected around the values where the two phases are in equilibrium, thicker parts evaporate and thinner parts condensate. In this way, evaporation/condensation could be used to stabilize the Rayleigh-Taylor instability and to obtain regular structuring of the film surface [1]. Our aim is to study the Rayleigh-Taylor instability using the phase field model. 2D computer simulations are performed in order to visualize the streamlines in each bulk phase and to achieve a better understanding of the stabilization role of evaporation.

[1] M. Bestehorn, D. Merkt, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97 (2006) 127802.