Role of liquid viscosity in secondary atomization of droplets

What is it about?

Tiny droplets play a pivotal role in various natural phenomena and industrial applications. Accurate prediction of the modulation of fuel length scales under intense aerodynamic and thermal environments is critical for optimising the performance of internal combustion engines. In this study, we highlight the influence of viscosity and shear layer dynamics on fragmentation quality. Our work advances analytical models of secondary atomization, providing enhanced predictive capability for the deformation and breakup behaviour of Newtonian viscous liquids. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of droplet breakup mechanics, paving the way for improved efficiency in combustion and other fluid dynamics applications.

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Why is it important?

Analytical models are invaluable for estimating average fragment sizes during droplet breakup. While numerous models exist, none in the literature adequately account for the role of viscosity in determining the final fragment size. In this work, we introduce fitted parameters to incorporate viscosity effects into existing models, making them more comprehensive and significantly improving their accuracy across a wide range of viscosities.

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