Impact Dynamics of Droplet Containing Particle Suspensions on Deep Liquid Pool

TL;DR

This study investigates how droplets containing particles impact deep water pools, revealing unique behaviors influenced by suspension rheology and establishing a regime map of impact outcomes.

Contribution

It systematically characterizes the impact dynamics of particle-laden droplets on liquid pools, highlighting the effects of non-Newtonian behavior and providing a regime map with transition boundaries.

Findings

Distinct impact phenomena compared to Newtonian droplets

Rheology significantly influences impact outcomes

Established a regime map with scaling analysis

Abstract

Droplet impact on surfaces is ubiquitous in many natural and industrial processes. While the impact dynamics of droplets composed of simple fluids have been studied extensively, droplets containing particles are less explored, but are more application relevant. The non-Newtonian behavior of particle suspension introduces new physics affecting the impact dynamics. Here, we investigated the impact dynamics of droplets containing cornstarch particles on a deep water pool and systematically characterized the impact outcomes with various Weber number and particle volume fractions. Distinctive phenomena compared to Newtonian droplet impact have been observed. A regime map of the impact outcomes is unveiled and the transition boundaries are quantified with scaling analysis. Rheology of the suspension is found to play a pivotal role in giving rise to distinct impact outcomes. The results lay the foundation for further characterization of the dynamics of suspension droplet impacting on liquid surfaces and can be translated to other suspension fluids.