The rupture force of liquid bridges in two and three particle systems

Abstract

The measurement of the rupture force for an axially strained liquid bridge has been the subject of research for the last three decades and is fundamental to the understanding of the behavior of multiphase systems in granular materials. The study herein presents experimental work measuring the rupture force of pendular and capillary bridges in a three-particle configuration providing an axial and a shear strain. Results and subsequent analysis indicates that the rupture force and maximum rupture distance are the effect of surface characteristics, straining mechanism and effective liquid volume. For systems of more than two particles, we note that the effective packing fraction of the particles has a significant impact on the force required to rupture such a bridge.