MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering

2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Problem 2.02
This problem is from “Advanced Fluid Mechanics Problems” by A.H. Shapiro and A.A. Sonin

y g
α

ys (x) h
x

A liquid of density ρ and surface tension σ has been spilled on a horizontal plate so that it forms a very large
puddle whose depth (in the central parts) is h. Consider the region near the edge of the puddle, which can
be viewed to good approximation as two-dimensional. If the contact angle is α, derive an expression for the
shape of the liquid surface ys (x).

Assume for simplicity that α is small, so that the radius of curvature of the surface is large compared with
h and can be approximated by
1
R= 2
d ys
dx2
ans:

ys = h 1 − exp − ρg/σx

h = tan α σ/ρg

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Surface Tension A.H. Shapiro and A.A. Sonin 2.02

Solution:

y g h « Rpuddle
α ⇓
Po treat as a 2-dimensional problem
ys (x) h Pi
x Rpuddle

Given: σ, α, ρ
1
Radius of curvature, R1 ≈ 2
since α is small.
d ys
dx2

Unknown: ys , h

Find Po − Pi :
1 1
Po − Pi = −σ + ll since R2 = Rpuddle , which is assumed to be very large
R1 lR2
flat
Pa
Pa Pi = P a at ys = h since the surface is flat
Pi Pj (no curvature) ⇒ no surface tension!
h
ys
Pj = Pa + ρg(h − y)

For this side of the puddle

d2 ys 1 d2 y s
<0 ⇒ R1 = − ⇒ Po − Pi = σ
dx2 d 2 ys dx2
dx2
2
d y
For y = ys (x): Pi = Pj = Po + ρg(h − ys ) ⇒ −ρg(h − ys ) = σ dx2

d 2 ys ρg ρg ys = 0 at x = 0
− ys = − h 2nd order ODE w/ B.C. (2.02a)
dx2 σ σ ys = h as x → ∞
Solve Eq. (2.02a) by assuming the form of the solution to be: ys = AeBx + C
d 2 ys ρg Bx ρg ρg
⇒ = AB 2 eBx → AB 2 eBx − Ae − C = − h
dx2 σ σ σ
∴C=h
ρg ρg
∴B=± →B=− (so that ys = h at x → ∞)
σ σ
ρg
⇒ ys = A exp − x +h
σ

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Surface Tension A.H. Shapiro and A.A. Sonin 2.02

Solve for A by invoking the first boundary condition:

ys = 0 = A + h ⇒ A = −h
 
ρg
⇒ ys = h 1 − exp − x (2.02b)
σ
dys
Find h by letting dx = tan α at x = 0:
    
dys ρg ρg dys  ρg
=h exp − x ⇒  =h = tan α
dx σ σ dx x=0 σ

σ
⇒ h= tan α
ρg
1
Alternatively, starting from Young-Laplace, (assuming that α is small) such that curvature is equal to d2 ys
dx2
2
⇒ ΔP = −σ ddxy2s , ⇒
d 2 ys
Pi (x, ys (x)) − Po = −σ
, (2.02c)
dx2
besides, Pi (x, y) = Pi (x, ys ) + ρg(ys − y), from hydrostatics. Then, combining the information from hydro­
statics and Young Laplace,
d2 y s
⇒ Pi (x, y) = −σ 2 + Po + ρg(ys − y). (2.02d)
dx
Now, since it’s hard to work with so many functions, let’s use one more property from hydrostatics, dPdx = 0,
at any y. Then, differentiating all the expression,
d 3 ys dys
0 = −σ + ρg , (2.02e)
dx3 dx
and setting Lc = σ
ρg , ⇒ for 0 < x < ∞ (large puddle),

3
0 = L2c ddxy3s − dys
dx , (2.02f)

which is a 3rd order differential equation with the boundary conditions

ys (0) = 0, (2.02g)
dys (0)
= tan α, (2.02h)
dx
dys
→0 as x → ∞. (2.02i)
dx
dys
Solving, we first introduce G = dx , so
d2 G
G = C1 e− Lc +
x x
Lc − G = 0, ⇒ C2 e Lc (2.02j)
dx2
C2 =0, unbounded term

then,
ys = C1q e− Lc + C3 .
x
(2.02k)
−x
From the boundary condition ys (0) = 0, ⇒ C1q = C3 , ⇒ ys = C3 (1 − e Lc ).
−x
dys (0)
From the boundary condition dx = tan α, ⇒ C3
Lc = tan α, ⇒ ys = Lc tan α(1 − e Lc ).
Finally,
−x
ys (x) = Lc tan α(1 − e Lc ), (2.02l)
from which we notice that Lc measures the extent of the effect of interface tension on the surface profile.

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Surface Tension A.H. Shapiro and A.A. Sonin 2.02

Note that we can deduce h (for all x) by a force balance as done in class:

ρgh2 2σ(1 − cos α)

+ σ cos α = σ, ⇒ h2 = (2.02m)
2 ρg
then, as α → 0
2σ(1 − cos α) 1 σα2
≈ 2σ(1 − (1 − α2 + ...)) = . (2.02n)
ρg ρg ρg

Problem Solution by Sungyon Lee, MC (Updated), Fall 2008

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2.25 Advanced Fluid Mechanics

Fall 2013

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