Stability of Axisymmetric Liquid Bridges

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the stability of axisymmetric liquid bridges between solid bodies under asymmetric perturbations, identifying stability boundaries for various modes and demonstrating the existence of stable convex nodoid menisci.

Contribution

It introduces a Fourier mode expansion approach to determine stability regions for liquid bridges with fixed and free contact lines, including convex nodoid configurations.

Findings

Stability boundaries are mapped for each angular mode.

Stable convex nodoid menisci can exist between two spheres.

The method applies to both fixed and free contact line conditions.

Abstract

We study stability of axisymmetric liquid bridges between two axisymmetric solid bodies in the absence of gravity under arbitrary asymmetric perturbations which are expanded into a set of angular Fourier modes. We determine the stability region boundary for every angular mode in case of both fixed and free contact lines. Application of this approach allows us to demonstrate existence of stable convex nodoid menisci between two spheres.