Shear-thinning drop formation

Abstract

A volume-of-fluid numerical method is used to predict the dynamics of drop formation from a nozzle with a circular exit, directed vertically downwards in air, when the drop fluid is shear-thinning. The validity of the numerical calculation is first confirmed for a Newtonian fluid by comparison with experimental measurements. For the cases considered, predictions for a shear-thinning drop fluid result in more rapid pinch-off and a smaller final neck length consistent with a related study of liquid bridges.