Issue 19, 2018

Drop on a bent fibre

Abstract

Inspired by the huge droplets attached on cypress tree leaf tips after rain, we find that a bent fibre can hold significantly more water in the corner than a horizontally placed fibre (typically up to three times or more). The maximum volume of the liquid that can be trapped is remarkably affected by the bending angle of the fibre and surface tension of the liquid. We experimentally find the optimal included angle (∼36°) that holds the most water. Analytical and semi-empirical models are developed to explain these counter-intuitive experimental observations and predict the optimal angle. The data and models could be useful for designing microfluidic and fog harvesting devices.

Graphical abstract: Drop on a bent fibre

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Aug 2017
Accepted
06 Mar 2018
First published
15 Mar 2018

Soft Matter, 2018,14, 3724-3729

Drop on a bent fibre

Z. Pan, F. Weyer, W. G. Pitt, N. Vandewalle and T. T. Truscott, Soft Matter, 2018, 14, 3724 DOI: 10.1039/C7SM01729D

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