Bursting dynamics of viscous film without circular symmetry: the effect of confinement

TL;DR

This study experimentally explores how confinement alters the bursting dynamics of viscous liquid films, revealing unique behaviors such as constant bursting speed and shape asymmetry, with identified inertial crossover points.

Contribution

It provides new insights into confined viscous film bursting, highlighting differences from non-confined cases and identifying crossover regimes.

Findings

Confined viscous bursting occurs at a constant speed.

Rim at the bursting tip does not grow in confined films.

Crossover between viscous and inertial regimes identified.

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the bursting dynamics of confined liquid film suspended in air and find a viscous dynamics distinctly different from the non-confined counterpart, due to lack of circular symmetry in the shape of expanding hole: the novel confined-viscous bursting proceeds at a constant speed and a rim formed at the bursting tip does not grow. We find a confined-viscous to confined-inertial crossover, as well as a nonconfined-inertial to confined-inertial crossover, at which bursting speed does not change although the circular symmetry in the hole shape breaks dynamically.