Direct numerical simulations of turbulent jets: vortex-interface-surfactant interactions

TL;DR

This study uses advanced 3D numerical simulations to reveal how insoluble surfactants and Marangoni stresses significantly influence vortex formation and interfacial dynamics in turbulent jets.

Contribution

It introduces the first detailed analysis of surfactant-induced Marangoni stresses on vortex structures in turbulent jets using a novel interface-tracking method.

Findings

Marangoni stresses lead to formation of hairpin-like vortex structures

Surfactants significantly alter vortex dynamics and interfacial behavior

Theoretical expressions for circulation production mechanisms are provided

Abstract

We study the effect of insoluble surfactants on the spatio-temporal evolution of turbulent jets. We use three-dimensional numerical simulations and employ an interface-tracking/level-set method that accounts for surfactant-induced Marangoni stresses. The present study builds on our previous work (Constante et al., 2021, J. Fluid Mech., 922, A6) in which we examined in detail the vortex-surface interaction in the absence of surfactants. Numerical solutions are obtained for a wide range of Weber and elasticity numbers in which vorticity production is generated by surface deformation and surfactant-induced Marangoni stresses. The present work demonstrates, for the first time, the crucial role of Marangoni stresses, brought about by surfactant concentration gradients, in the formation of coherent, hairpin-like vortex structures. These structures have a profound influence on the development of the three-dimensional interfacial dynamics. We also present theoretical expressions for the mechanisms that influence the rate of production of circulation in the presence of surfactants for a general, three-dimensional, two-phase flow and highlight the dominant contribution of Marangoni stresses.