NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF DROPLET DEFORMATION IN CONVECTIVE FLOWS

A computational model based on an arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerian numerical algorithm is developed for flows separated by a free surface where the surface tension force is important. This model is used to study deformation and oscillation of cylindrical/spherical droplets with and without external forced convection. The calculated frequency of droplet oscillation agrees well with the analytical value derived from perturbation analysis, and the amplitude of oscillation does not decay with time, which indicates that numerical diffusion and damping do not exist in the adopted algorithm. The deformation of an initially spherical droplet under forced convection is calculated and found consistent with the conclusions in the literature. Good agreement is also obtained in comparison with experimental results for an initially deformed droplet in forced convective flows.