Self-similar breakup of a liquid ligament with a solid particle

TL;DR

This paper investigates how solid particles influence the breakup of liquid ligaments, revealing a universal self-similar pinch-off behavior triggered by particle-induced perturbations, supported by simulations and analytical modeling.

Contribution

It introduces a new understanding of particle-induced perturbations causing universal self-similar breakup dynamics in liquid ligaments.

Findings

Particle perturbations trigger universal pinch-off dynamics.

Breakup becomes self-similar and independent of particle size near the surface.

Analytical expression for pinch-off time matches simulations.

Abstract

The breakup of thinning (stretching) liquid ligaments is strongly influenced by localized perturbations arising from impurities or suspended particles. Using numerical simulations and analytical modelling, we investigate the role of a solid particle on the breakup dynamics of a stretching liquid ligament. We show that particle-induced perturbations trigger a universal pinch-off dynamics in the viscous regime. Once the ligament surface approaches the particle, the subsequent breakup becomes self-similar and independent of the particle size. We derive an analytical expression for the pinch-off time based on the interplay between ligament stretching and Rayleigh-Plateau instability, which agrees quantitatively with simulations. Our results reveal a universal mechanism by which localized perturbations control the breakup of ligaments containing solid particles.