Stick-Slip Dynamics in Non-Isothermal Flow

We have investigated the effect of a solidifying contact line on the dynamics of flowing fluid down an inclined plate. A complete set of experimental studies were performed for continuous flow at constant flow rate on an aluminum substrate for advancing contact angle values less than 90 degrees. As the fluid propagates downhill, the contact line gets pinned to the surface due to solidification. The liquid builds up behind the pinned contact line till it reaches a critical angle. The fluid then over flows the solid barrier, and the process repeats over the length of the inclined plate at a specific frequency. This work focuses on understanding the physics behind this stick-slip behavior and determining the governing characteristics such as critical pinning contact angle, critical spreading length, and pinning frequency as well as the important physical parameters involved in non-isothermal spreading fluids . The results of experimental and analytical studies are presented.