Modeling of axial motion of small droplets deposited on smooth and rough fiber surfaces

A two-color lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM) was used for simulation of the behavior of droplets deposited on a fiber. The interaction of the droplet with the gas flowing around a fiber having smooth and rough surfaces was analyzed. The equilibrium of conformation of droplets and their velocities were derived. The results of the calculation show the distinguished patterns of the interaction depending on the structure of the fiber roughness and the fiber and droplet dimensions.

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► Two-color lattice Boltzmann model for simulations of a motion of droplet on fiber.
► Dependence of velocity and contact angle on gas velocity agree with theory.
► Velocity on rough fiber usually lower than on smooth one-triple line pining effect.
► Pining effect may cause the change of conformation of a droplet and its velocity.