Daniel Anderson, George Mason University

Liquid Droplet Dynamics: Variations on a Theme

Abstract:  Free-boundary problems in fluid mechanics arise in many scientific, industrial and everyday settings.  The spreading of a liquid
droplet on a solid substrate is one such free-boundary problem that has long-attracted the attention of fluid dynamics researchers and
applied mathematicians.  In this talk, we shall describe this droplet problem briefly but go on to consider variations of this problem in
which the droplet may undergo phase transformation or otherwise be dramatically altered by other factors.  In particular, we shall describe
the dynamics of evaporating droplets, freezing droplets, melting droplets and droplets being imbibed into porous substrates, among others.
We shall present experimental results as well as mathematical models developed to describe these problems.
 
Address: Department of Mathematical Sciences, MS: 3F2, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive,
                Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.
                http://math.gmu.edu/~dmanders