A Two‐Dimensional Computational Droplet Contact Model

The interaction between capillary fluid films and micro-structural rough surfaces is one of the main challenges in studying self-cleaning mechanisms. The surface behavior of the deformable fluid film is governed by the Young-Laplace equation, which is highly non-linear. Therefore, a numerical solution is introduced using the finite element method, based on a continuum mechanical formulation. Surface and line contact at the fluid-structure interface are modeled by enforcing a contact constraint, and a contact angle, respectively. The numerical solution is validated against the analytical solution of a test case. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)