Fragmentation of thin liquid sheet through hole nucleation

The formation of holes in the dynamics of thin liquid sheets is commonly seen in nature and industrial applications. This study focuses on aerodynamics effects in the perforation and disintegration of a thin liquid sheet and the outcomes of the collision of two distinct holes using three-dimensional numerical simulations. Thin liquid sheets with thicknesses ranging from 25 to 150 µm are considered using air/water conditions. The liquid sheet, sandwiched by a top and bottom fast gas streams, oscillates and small holes, preceded by craters surrounded by ripples, are formed. The thinning of the liquid sheet, spanwise corrugations, and vortex separations within the liquid-gas boundary layer are shown to govern the dynamics of the liquid sheet. A localized pressure jump is observed inside the liquid sheet and precedes the rupture of the liquid sheet by pushing the liquid away in the span direction. The holes formed subsequently grow, collide, merge with each other and break the liquid sheet into multiple droplets.