A first-of-its-kind study reveals why liquid droplets are capable of destroying hard surfaces.
Using a recently developed method,The researchers measured hidden quantities such as shear stress and pressure created by liquid droplets hitting a surface. Previously, this phenomenon was studied only visually.
Researchers have been studying the effects of droplets for years.It is common knowledge that slowly dripping water erodes the surface over time. But why something soft and fluid has such an effect on hard surfaces remained little understood.
In the past, the effects of droplets were analyzed onlyvisually with high-speed cameras. Now researchers at the University of Minnesota have used high-speed stress microscopy. They measured the force, stress and pressure under liquid droplets as they hit a surface.
It turned out that the force created by the drop is actuallyactually spreads with it when it falls, and does not concentrate in the center. Each drop behaves like a small bomb, releasing the impact energy and giving it the force it needs to erode surfaces over time.
In addition to providing a new way to study the effects of droplets, this research will help engineers develop surfaces that are more resistant to erosion.
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