Droplet breakup in homogeneous and isotropic turbulence

Abstract

This fluid dynamics video shows the breakup of a droplet in a stationary homogeneous and isotropic turbulent flow. We consider droplets with the same density of the transporting fluid. The droplets and the fluid are numerically modelled by means of a multicompo- nent Lattice-Boltzmann method. The turbulent fluid is maintained through a large scale stirring force and the radius of stable droplets, for the parameters in our simulation, is larger than the Kolmogorov scale. Events of droplet deformation, break-up and aggregation are clearly visible from the movie. With the present database droplet evo- lution can be studied from both an Eulerian and Lagrangian point of view. The Kolmogorov-Hinze criteria for droplets break-up can be tested also by means of simulations with different viscosity contrast between the two components.