Coalescence Dynamics

Jens Eggers; James E. Sprittles; Jacco H. Snoeijer

doi:10.1146/annurev-fluid-121021-044919

Coalescence Dynamics

Jens Eggers, James E. Sprittles, Jacco H. Snoeijer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

70 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The merging of two fluid drops is one of the fundamental topological transitions occurring in free surface flow. Its description has many applications, for example, in the chemical industry (emulsions, sprays, etc.), in natural flows driving our climate, and for the sintering of materials. After the reconnection of two drops, strongly localized surface tension forces drive a singular flow, characterized by a connecting liquid bridge that grows according to scaling laws. We review theory, experiment, and simulation of the coalescence of two spherical drops for different parameters and in the presence of an outer fluid. We then generalize to other geometries, such as drops spreading on a substrate and in Hele–Shaw flow, and we discuss other types of mass transport, apart from viscous flow. Our focus is on times immediately after reconnection and on the limit of initially undeformed drops at rest relative to one another.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	61-87
Number of pages	27
Journal	Annual review of fluid mechanics
Volume	57
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-fluid-121021-044919
Publication status	Published - 22 Jan 2025

Keywords

UT-Hybrid-D
capillarity
coalescence
complex fluids
droplets
singularities
bubbles

Access to Document

10.1146/annurev-fluid-121021-044919Licence: CC BY

annurev-fluid-121021-044919Final published version, 1.69 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{39b6543e1d504f63b387c7cea2e5ffb3,

title = "Coalescence Dynamics",

abstract = "The merging of two fluid drops is one of the fundamental topological transitions occurring in free surface flow. Its description has many applications, for example, in the chemical industry (emulsions, sprays, etc.), in natural flows driving our climate, and for the sintering of materials. After the reconnection of two drops, strongly localized surface tension forces drive a singular flow, characterized by a connecting liquid bridge that grows according to scaling laws. We review theory, experiment, and simulation of the coalescence of two spherical drops for different parameters and in the presence of an outer fluid. We then generalize to other geometries, such as drops spreading on a substrate and in Hele–Shaw flow, and we discuss other types of mass transport, apart from viscous flow. Our focus is on times immediately after reconnection and on the limit of initially undeformed drops at rest relative to one another.",

keywords = "UT-Hybrid-D, capillarity, coalescence, complex fluids, droplets, singularities, bubbles",

author = "Jens Eggers and Sprittles, \{James E.\} and Snoeijer, \{Jacco H.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2025 by the author(s).",

year = "2025",

month = jan,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1146/annurev-fluid-121021-044919",

language = "English",

volume = "57",

pages = "61--87",

journal = "Annual review of fluid mechanics",

issn = "0066-4189",

publisher = "Annual Reviews",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Coalescence Dynamics

AU - Eggers, Jens

AU - Sprittles, James E.

AU - Snoeijer, Jacco H.

PY - 2025/1/22

Y1 - 2025/1/22

N2 - The merging of two fluid drops is one of the fundamental topological transitions occurring in free surface flow. Its description has many applications, for example, in the chemical industry (emulsions, sprays, etc.), in natural flows driving our climate, and for the sintering of materials. After the reconnection of two drops, strongly localized surface tension forces drive a singular flow, characterized by a connecting liquid bridge that grows according to scaling laws. We review theory, experiment, and simulation of the coalescence of two spherical drops for different parameters and in the presence of an outer fluid. We then generalize to other geometries, such as drops spreading on a substrate and in Hele–Shaw flow, and we discuss other types of mass transport, apart from viscous flow. Our focus is on times immediately after reconnection and on the limit of initially undeformed drops at rest relative to one another.

AB - The merging of two fluid drops is one of the fundamental topological transitions occurring in free surface flow. Its description has many applications, for example, in the chemical industry (emulsions, sprays, etc.), in natural flows driving our climate, and for the sintering of materials. After the reconnection of two drops, strongly localized surface tension forces drive a singular flow, characterized by a connecting liquid bridge that grows according to scaling laws. We review theory, experiment, and simulation of the coalescence of two spherical drops for different parameters and in the presence of an outer fluid. We then generalize to other geometries, such as drops spreading on a substrate and in Hele–Shaw flow, and we discuss other types of mass transport, apart from viscous flow. Our focus is on times immediately after reconnection and on the limit of initially undeformed drops at rest relative to one another.

KW - UT-Hybrid-D

KW - capillarity

KW - coalescence

KW - complex fluids

KW - droplets

KW - singularities

KW - bubbles

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85216881966&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1146/annurev-fluid-121021-044919

DO - 10.1146/annurev-fluid-121021-044919

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85216881966

SN - 0066-4189

VL - 57

SP - 61

EP - 87

JO - Annual review of fluid mechanics

JF - Annual review of fluid mechanics

ER -

Coalescence Dynamics

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this