Electrohydrodynamic instabilities of viscous drops in strong electric fields

Departments: Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Time: Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Type: Seminar Series
Presenter: Petia Vlahovska; Associate Professor of Engineering Sciences and Applied Math, Northwestern University
Room/Office: Room 107
Location:
Mason Lab
9 Hillhouse Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511
United States
See map: Google Maps

Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science Seminar

Petia M. Vlahovska
Associate Professor of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics
Northwestern University

"Electrohydrodynamic instabilities of viscous drops in strong electric fields"

A classic result due to G.I.Taylor is that a weakly conducting drop bearing zero net charge placed in a uniform electric field adopts a prolate or oblate spheroidal shape, the flow and shape being axisymmetrically aligned with the applied field. Here I will overview some intriguing symmetry--breaking instabilities (Quincke rotation resulting in drop steady tilt or tumbling, and pattern formation on the surface of a particle-coated drop), and the streaming from the drop equator that creates visually striking "Saturn-rings" around the drop.

Wednesday, April 18, 2018
2:30 – 3:30 pm
Location – Mason 107
Host: Professor Juan de la Mora
Refreshments served at 2:15 pm