Molecular dynamics simulations of the nano-droplet impact process on hydrophobic surfaces

• Published in: Chinese physics B 2014-07, Vol.23 (7), p.488-493
• Main Authors: Hu, Hai-Bao, Chen, Li-Bin, Bao, Lu-Yao, Huang, Su-He
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dynamic tests; Impact velocity; Molecular dynamics; Nanostructure; Segments; Simulation; Spreading; Velocity distribution; 传播过程; 冲击速度; 分子动力学模拟; 撞击过程; 液滴; 疏水表面; 纳米; 速度分布
• ISSN: 1674-1056; 2058-3834; 1741-4199
• DOI: 10.1088/1674-1056/23/7/074702

Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the dynamic processes of a nano-droplet impacting on hydrophobic surfaces at a microscopic level. Both the impact phenomena and the velocity distributions are recorded and analyzed. According to the simulation results, similar phenomena are obtained to those in macro-experiments. Impact velocity affects the spread process to a greater degree than at a level of contact angle when the velocity is relatively high. The velocity distribution along the X axis during spread is wave-like, either W- or M-shaped, and the velocity at each point is oscillatory; while the edges have the highest spread velocity and there are crests in the distribution curve which shift toward the edges over time. The distribution along the Y axis is 〈- or 〉-shaped, and the segments above the middle have the lowest decrease rate in the spreading process and the highest increase rate in the retraction process.