The effect of surface tension on the shape of fingers in a Hele Shaw cell
- Creators
- McLean, J. W.
- Saffman, P. G.
Abstract
The experimental results of Saffman & Taylor (1958) and Pitts (1980) on fingering in a Hele Shaw cell are modelled by two-dimensional potential flow with surface-tension effects included at the interface. Using free streamline techniques, the shape of the free surface is expressed as the solution of a nonlinear integro-differential equation. The equation is solved numerically and the solutions are compared with experimental results. The shapes of the profiles are very well predicted, but the dependence of finger width on surface tension is not quantitatively accurate, although the qualitative behaviour is correct. A conflict between the numerics and a formal singular perturbation analysis is noted but not resolved. The stability of the steady finger to small disturbances is also examined. Linearized stability analysis indicates that the two-dimensional fingers are not stabilized by the surface-tension effect, which disagrees with the experimental observations. A possible reason for the discrepancy between theory and experiment is suggested.
Additional Information
© 1981 Cambridge University Press. Received 24 June 1980. This work was supported by the Department of Energy (Office of Basic Energy Sciences). We also wish to thank Control Data Corporation for the granting of time on their CYBER 203 computer at the C.D.C. Service Center, Arden Hills, Minnesota, which enabled us to implement Newton's method for large matrices.Attached Files
Published - MCLjfm81.pdf
Files
| Name | Size | Download all |
|---|---|---|
|
md5:2dc16b0c5ed0b2fcc01c01f28236e7d1
|
1.2 MB | Preview Download |
Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 32567
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20120718-151352644
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Created
-
2012-07-18Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2021-11-09Created from EPrint's last_modified field