Visualization of Two-dimensional Vortex Flows in Thin Oscillating Liquid Films

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kiyashko, S.V. | Nazarovsky, A.V.

Affiliations: Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Science, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

Abstract: A possibility of visualizing flows using random inhomogeneities of film thicknesses of different colors as particles for visualization is shown on an example of a vortex flow structure in an oscillating thin liquid film. Formation of vortex flows in a thin liquid film containing surface-active substances is investigated in experiments. The film is fixed horizontally along the edges of the cell vibrating in the vertical direction. Spatially homogeneous oscillations of the liquid film can excite different types of waves that generate two-dimensional vortex flows due to nonlinearity. We present results of experimental investigation of the structure of vortex flows in a thin film (0.5-10 μm) with rectangular boundaries. It has been revealed that, if the horizontal size of an inhomogeneous region is much smaller than the size of vortices, the inhomogeneities are transported by vortices and their interference pattern can be used for visualization of vortex flows.

Keywords: Visualization, Vortex flows, Liquid film, PIV, Inhomogeneities

Journal: Journal of Visualization, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 53-58, 2003