The Thin-Layer Effect and Interfacial Stability in a Two-Layer Couette Flow with Similar Liquids.
Abstract
Shearing flows composed of several superposed liquid layers are frequently encountered in modern coating technology. The stability of a multi-layered flow is especially important in the precision coating of a color film which can consist of many layers. This paper investigates the stability of a flow in two layers when the fluids have similar properties and one of the fluids is in a thin layer. The stability of thin layers is relevant to flows in the lubrication industry. The linear stability of Couette flow composed of two layers of different immiscible fluids, one lying on top of the other, is considered. The interfacial eigenvalue is found analytically for all wavelengths, for the special case when the two fluids have similar mechanical properties, by considering the two-fluid problem as a perturbation of the one-fluid problem. It is shown that if one of the fluids is in a thin layer, the viscosity difference dominates the stability criterion: if there is a sufficient amount of surface tension, arrangements with the heavier fluid above can be linearly stable.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA167517
Entities
People
- Yuriko Renardy
Organizations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison