New simulation tool predicts how liquid jets break apart in manufacturing
Engineers have developed a computational model that accurately predicts how liquid jets behave as they fall, validated against real-world experiments. The breakthrough could improve precision in industrial processes like 3D printing, pharmaceutical production, and food processing—where controlling jet morphology directly affects product quality and efficiency.
Originaltitel: Investigating the Morphology of a Free-Falling Jet with an Accurate Finite Element and Level Set Modeling
<p>This study investigates the morphology of a free-falling liquid jet by using a computational approach with an experimental validation. Numerical simulations are developed by means of the Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving the viscous fluid flow and the level set method in order to track the interface between the fluid and air. Experiments are conducted in order to capture the shape of a free-falling jet of viscous fluid via circular orifice, where the shape is measured optically. The numerical results are found to be in agreement with the experimental data, demonstrating the validity of the proposed approach. Furthermore, we analyze the role of the surface tension by implementing linear as well as nonlinear surface energy models. All computational codes are developed with the aid of open-source packages from FEniCS and made publicly available. The combination of experimental and numerical techniques provides a comprehensive understanding of the morphology of free-falling jets and may be extended to multiphysics problems rather in a straightforward manner.</p>