Monotonicity, oscillations and stability of a solution to a nonlinear equation modelling the capillary rise

In this paper we analyse a singular second-order nonlinear ODE which models the capillary rise of a fluid inside a tubular column. We prove global existence, uniqueness and find several approximations along with the asymptotic behaviour of the solution. Moreover, we are able to find a critical value of the nondimensional parameter for which the solution exhibits a transition in its behaviour: from being monotone to oscillatory. This is an analytical rigorous proof of the experimentally and numerically confirmed phenomenon. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.