Liquid buckling in a practical situation

Abstract

Buckling of an oil filament is observed during the core annular flow of high viscous oil and water, when it encountered a sudden expansion in its flow path. Suitable mathematical equations have been suggested to predict the distance of initiation of buckling from the plane of area change and other characteristics of the deformed oil core. It is proposed that the initiation of buckling depends on the balance of inertial and viscous forces. The model predicts that as the oil flow rate increases, the fluid jet has to travel a larger distance from the plane of area change to initiate buckling. Frequency and radius of the buckled oil filament are also predicted from the model. © Copyright 2016 EPLA.