Bubble characterizations on hydrophobic surface using lattice Boltzmann simulation with large density ratios
International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow
ISSN: 0961-5539
Article publication date: 5 June 2017
Abstract
Purpose
The maintenance of the air–water interface is crucial for the drag reduction on hydrophobic surfaces. But the air bubbles become unstable and even washed away under high speed flow, causing the failure of surface hydrophobicity. Thereby, this paper aims to understand the relations between bubble behaviors and surface properties, flow conditions and to discover new methods to maintain the air–water interface.
Design/methodology/approach
Bubble properties on hydrophobic surfaces were characterized using single-component multiphase lattice Boltzmann simulation. Three equations of state (EOSs), including the Peng–Robinson, Carnahan–Starling and modified Kaplun–Meshalkin EOSs, were incorporated to achieve high density ratios.
Findings
Both the static and dynamic properties of bubbles on hydrophobic surfaces were investigated and analyzed under different flow conditions, solid–liquid interactions and surface topology.
Originality/value
By revealing the properties of bubbles on hydrophobic surfaces, the effects of flow conditions and surface properties were characterized. The maintenance method of air–water interface can be proposed according to the bubble properties in the study.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the supports from the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51679203) and Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shenzhen city of China (Grant No. JCYJ20160510140747996).
Citation
Du, P., Hu, H., Ren, F. and Song, D. (2017), "Bubble characterizations on hydrophobic surface using lattice Boltzmann simulation with large density ratios", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 27 No. 6, pp. 1311-1322. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-02-2016-0062
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited