Simulation of nanodroplet impact on a solid surface

Abstract

A novel computational fluid dynamics and molecular kinetic theory (CFD-MK) method was developed to simulate the impingement of a nanodroplet onto a solid surface. A numerical solution of the NavierâStokes equation using a volume-of-fluid (VOF) technique was used to model nanodroplet deformation. Dynamic contact angle during droplet impact was obtained by molecular kinetic theory. This dynamic contact angle was then implemented in the numerical model used to simulate the process. The spreading behavior was analyzed for the wettable, partially wettable and nonwettable surfaces. The consistency between the two results was good both qualitatively and quantitatively.