Numerical Study of the Formation of a Liquid Bridge Between Two Spheres with Uniform Film Thickness

Liquid bridge formation and breakage is found to be an important factor in influencing the dynamics of wet granular flows. While there have been numerous studies on capillary bridge normal forces and rupture distances there have been few studies in the literature on the initial formation of the liquid bridges.

Using a commercial CFD software package and the VOF method, we numerically investigate the filling of a liquid bridge when two spherical particles with uniform films touch. The liquids are assumed to coat the particles uniformly initially and the particles are held fixed throughout the process.  We present the liquid bridge volume as a function of time for various liquids, coating thicknesses, particle diameters, and contact angles.  The parameters affecting the liquid bridge volume are grouped into dimensionless terms including the Ohnesorge number and dimensionless geometric parameters. We also present the final state of the liquid bridge for these cases.