Coupled wetting meniscus model for the mechanism of spontaneous capillary action

Capillarity plays a significant role in many natural and artificial processes, but the mechanism responsible for its dynamics is not completely understood. In this study, we consider capillary flow characteristics and propose a coupled wetting meniscus model for the mechanism of spontaneous capillary action. In this model, capillary action is considered as the dynamic coupling of two interfacial forces, i.e., the wall wetting force at the contact line and the meniscus restoring force on the free interface. The wetting force promotes the motion of the contact line directed toward an equilibrium contact angle, whereas the meniscus restoring force promotes a reduction in the interface curvature, which is more consistent with a 90° contact angle. The competing interaction between these two forces is coupled together via the evolution of the interface shape. The model is then incorporated into a finite volume method for a two-fluid flow with an interface. Capillary flow experiments were performed, including vertical and horizontal flows. Phenomena analysis and data comparisons were conducted to verify the proposed model. According to the results of our study, the model can explain the capillary flow process well and it can be also used to accurately guide capillary flow calculations.