ISBN 978-3-8439-5710-6

978-3-8439-5710-6, Reihe Thermodynamik

Weibo Ren
Numerical Simulations of Drop Impact onto Textured Surfaces

136 Seiten, Dissertation Universität Stuttgart (2026), Softcover, A5

Zusammenfassung / Abstract

This thesis investigates the complex dynamics of droplet impact onto various textured surfaces through Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS). Using "Free Surface 3D" (FS3D), an in-house multiphase DNS solver based on the Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) method, the three-dimensional internal flow fields and interfacial dynamics are fully resolved at high spatial and temporal resolution.

The study focuses on the interactions between droplets and surface structures across six distinct scenarios, ranging from superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic substrates. The investigations cover impacts onto microscale pillar arrays of various geometries (cubic, tetrahedral, hemispherical, and semi-ellipsoidal), simultaneous two-droplet impacts, and impacts into deep pools with submerged structures.

A wide range of physical phenomena is examined, including splashing dynamics, internal flow fields, surface wetting behavior, and the air entrapment process. The simulation results offer insights into droplet morphological changes between surface structures and fully resolved three-dimensional velocity fields that are often very difficult to obtain experimentally. This work provides insight into the physical mechanisms governing droplet impact onto textured surfaces and contributes a fundamental basis that may support the design and optimization of functional surfaces for a variety of industrial applications.