Waterdrop collisions with solid surfaces

Abstract

An approach is described to the diffi cult problem of t he dynamics of an impinging water sphere. The flow in t he impact plane is traced chemical ly. The stages in t he collapse of the water mass and of its radial flow are shown in photographs that were taken with a high-speed motion-pictur e camera. Empirical determinations of t he t ime dependence of t he impact force and of t he radial flow velocity are reported. The possible occurrence of cavitation in the radi al flow is considered. A semi empirical analysis based upon vari oLls simplifying aSSLlmptions leads to equations for the maximum impact pressure and for the rate of spread of the water after the collision.