Liquid films with high surface modulus moving in tubes: dynamic wetting film and jumpy motion

Abstract

We investigate the motion through a wet tube of transverse soap films, or lamellae, of high surface dilatationnal modulus. Combining local thickness and velocity measurements in the wetting film, we reveal a zone of several centimeters in length, the dynamic wetting film, which is significantly influenced by a moving lamella. The dependence of this influence length on lamella velocity and wetting film thickness provides a discrimination among several possible surfactant minimal models. A spectacular jumpy mode of unsteady motion of a lamella is also evidenced.