Mathematical modelling of droplet evaporation

This thesis concerns the theoretical modelling and analysis of sessile droplets of liquids as they evaporate in different modes of evaporation. The thesis focuses on diffusion limited evaporation in which the diffusion of vapour in the surrounding atmosphere governs the evaporation rate of the droplet.;First, we investigate the combined influences of the initial contact angle and the substrate conductivity on droplet evaporation. In particular, we highlight that for droplets with large contact angles the lifetime of the droplet does not vary strongly with either the mode of evaporation or the conductivity of the substrate.;Next, we investigate the evaporation of thin sessile droplets on thin substrates in two situations in which the influence of the thermal properties of the system is strong. Specifically, we obtain closed form asymptotic solutions for the evolution of the droplet when the substrate has a high thermal resistance relative to the droplet, and when the saturation concentration of the vapour depends strongly on temperature.;Finally, we develop a model for the evaporation of thin two-dimensional sessile droplets evaporating either singly or as a pair. We find that in large domains the lifetime of the droplet depends logarithmically on the size of the domain, and more weakly on the mode of evaporation and the separation between the droplets. In particular, we quantify the shielding effect that the droplets have on each other, and how it extends the lifetime of the droplets.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral-pg

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Strathclyde

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Schofield, Feargus G. H.

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Pritchard, David
• Wilson, Stephen

DOI

10.48730/k454-bh13

Identifier

T15806

Author Identifier

201666016

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:strathclyde:fb494845g