Steady and unsteady solutions for coating flow on a rotating horizontal cylinder: Two-dimensional theoretical and numerical modeling

Abstract

A model for the evolution of a thin liquid coating on a horizontal cylinder is presented. The cylinder rotates about its axis, carrying liquid around its circumference. For a viscous coating, this leads to formation of a relatively thick coating where the cylinder surface moves upward. The model is based on lubrication theory, as the coating is thin compared to the cylinder radius, and includes the effects of cylinder rotation, gravity, surface tension, and flow along the cylinder axis. A two-dimensional numerical scheme based on finite differences is produced, for investigation of the case when axial flow is neglected. This numerical scheme is validated in appropriate limiting cases. Coating cross sections are obtained over a range of cylinder rotation rates, for realistic parameter values. These show a transition from pendant drops hanging beneath the cylinder to a nearly uniform coating wrapped around it as rotation rate is increased.