A Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is applied to investigate the deformation and breakup of an initially spherical drop in the bag- and shear breakup regimes, induced by steady disturbances. The onset of breakup is sought by studying steady-shape deformations while increasing the Weber number until breakup occurs. A parameter study is carried out applying different material properties and a wide range of drop Reynolds numbers in the steady wake regime. Density ratios of liquid to gas of 20, 40, and 80, viscosity ratios in the range 0.5-50, and Reynolds numbers between 20 and 200 are investigated for a constant Weber number of 20. The critical Weber number is found to be 12, in agreement with observations of earlier studies. For Weber number of 20 varying density, viscosity ratios and Reynolds numbers, interesting mixed breakup modes are discovered. Moreover, a new regime map including all modes observed is presented. A criterion for the transition between bag-and shear breakup is defined relating the competing inertial and shear forces appearing in the flow. Furthermore, results on breakup times and the time history of the drag coefficient are presented; the latter is concluded to be a potential parameter to indicate the occurrence of breakup. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is applied to study the deformation and breakup of a single liquid drop in shear flows superimposed on uniform flow. The effect of shearing on the breakup mechanism is investigated as a function of the shear rate. Sequential images are compared for the parameter range studied; density ratios of liquid to gas of 20, 40, and 80, viscosity ratios in the range 0.5-50, Reynolds numbers between 20, a constant Weber number of 20, and the non-dimensional shear rate of the flow G = 0-2.1875. It is found that while shear breakup remains similar for all values of shear rate considered, other breakup modes observed for uniform flows are remarkably modified with increasing shear rate. The time required for breakup is significantly decreased in strong shear flows. A simple model predicting the breakup time as a function of the shear rate and the breakup time observed in uniform flows is suggested.

A Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is applied to study the interaction between two liquid drops in uniform flow, where the drops have the same initial diameter and are placed in tandem, for initial separation distances of l = 1.5 − 20D (drop diameters). Simulations have been performed for a We- ber number of W e = 20, Reynolds numbers in the range Re = 20 − 200, and density and viscosity ratios of ρ∗ = 20 − 80 and μ∗ = 0.5 − 50. The movement of the back drop with respect to the front drop is evaluated and presented in the form of a regime map within the adopted parameter range. Besides the initial separation distance most commonly addressed in literature in the topic, additional parameters such as the Reynolds number and density and viscosity ratios determine whether the drops collide or not. Furthermore, sequential im- ages along with the analyses of the wake around the interacting drops suggest that the time required for breakup is also crucial regarding the outcome of the interaction. Data on the length of the wake region behind a deforming drop is provided, and together with the breakup time of single drops is used to identify, and define criteria for the regimes of the various observed interaction scenarios.

A Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is applied to study the interaction between two liquid drops with the same initial diameter in uniform flow. Various arrangements of the drops are studied, based on two parameters, namely the initial separation distance and the angle between the line connecting the centres of the drops and the free-stream direction. Specifically, initial separation distances of l = 1.5 − 5D drop diamters, and angles between β = 0◦ − 90◦ are considered. Simulations for a Weber number of W e = 20, two Reynolds numbers Re = 20 and 50, and density and viscosity ratios in the range ρ∗ = 20 − 80 and μ∗ = 0.5 − 50 are performed. The movement of the secondary drop with respect to the primary drop, and the time required for the breakup of the secondary drop as compared to those observed for single drops are evaluated. It is found that the drops collide only in cases corresponding to the shortest initial displacements, while in others they deform and break up independently, similar or identical to single drops. The same behaviour is reflected in the time required for breakup. Cases where the drops behave independently show breakup times close to those observed for single drops.