Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (English Edition) ›› 2011, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (8): 1039-1046.doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10483-011-1479-9

• Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Thin liquid film morphology driven by electro-static field

 E. M. TIAN, T. P. SVOBODNY, J. D. PHILLIPS   

  1. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio 45435, USA
  • Online:2011-08-20 Published:2011-08-20

Abstract: The development of stationary patterns on a thin polymer surface subject to an electric field is studied by means of the hexagonal-planform weakly nonlinear stability analysis and numerical simulations. The time evolution of the interface between the air and the polymer film on the unbounded spatial domain is described by a thin film equation, incorporating the electric driving force and the surface diffusion. The nonlinear interfacial growth includes the amplitude equations and superposition of one-dimensional structures at regular orientations. The pattern selection is driven by the subcritical instability mechanism in which the relative thickness of the polymer film plays a critical role.

2010 MSC Number: 

APS Journals | CSTAM Journals | AMS Journals | EMS Journals | ASME Journals