Computational modeling of the effects of support fibers on evaporation of fiber-supported droplets in reduced gravity

A detailed numerical investigation of the effects of support fibers on the vaporization of a fiber-supported droplet in reduced gravity is presented. The volume-of-fluid (VOF) method was employed to capture the liquid–gas interface while allowing for time-dependent two-phase multidimensional flows. The calculations allowed for the inclusion of thermocapillary stresses at the liquid–gas interface. The study also investigated the effects of the thickness of fiber, ambient pressure, and ambient temperature on droplet evaporation. The present computational results agree well with experimental results.