Falling Liquid Films

Falling Liquid Films gives a detailed review of state-of-the-art theoretical, analytical and numerical methodologies, for the analysis of dissipative wave dynamics and pattern formation on the surface of a film falling down a planar inclined substrate. This prototype is an open-flow hydrodynamic instability, that represents an excellent paradigm for the study of complexity in active nonlinear media with energy supply, dissipation and dispersion. It will also be of use for a more general understanding of specific events characterizing the transition to spatio-temporal chaos and weak/dissipative turbulence. Particular emphasis is given to low-dimensional approximations for such flows through a hierarchy of modeling approaches, including equations of the boundary-layer type, averaged formulations based on weighted residuals approaches and long-wave expansions. Whenever possible the link between theory and experiment is illustrated, and, as a further bridge between the two, the development of order-of-magnitude estimates and scaling arguments is used to facilitate the understanding of basic, underlying physics. This monograph will appeal to advanced graduate students in applied mathematics, science or engineering undertaking research on interfacial fluid mechanics or studying fluid mechanics as part of their program. It will also be of use to researchers working on both applied, fundamental theoretical and experimental aspects of thin film flows, as well as engineers and technologists dealing with processes involving isothermal or heated films. This monograph is largely self-contained and no background on interfacial fluid mechanics is assumed.

This multi-authored volume provides a comprehensive and in-depth account of the highly interdisciplinary science and technology of liquid film coating. The book covers fundamental principles from a wide range of scientific disciplines, including fluid mechanics aand transport phenomena, capillary hydrodynamics, surface and colloid science. The authors, all acknowledged eperts in their fields, represent a balance between industrial and academic points of view. Throughout the text, many case studies illustrate how scientific principles together with advanced experimental and theoretical methods are applied to develop and optimize manufacturing processes of eve increasing sophiatication and efficiency. In the first part of the book, the authors systematically recount the underlying physical principles and important material properties. The second part of the book gives a comprehensive overview of the most advanced experimental, mathematical and computational methods available today to investigate coating processes. The third part provides an overview and critical literature review for all major classes of liquid film coating processes of industrial importance.

Prof. D. Brian Spalding, working with a small group of students and colleagues at Imperial College, London in the mid-to late-1960’s, single-handedly pioneered the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for engineering practice.​This book brings together advances in computational fluid dynamics in a collection of chapters authored by leading researchers, many of them students or associates of Prof. Spalding. The book intends to capture the key developments in specific fields of activity that have been transformed by application of CFD in the last 50 years. The focus is on review of the impact of CFD on these selected fields and of the novel applications that CFD has made possible. Some of the chapters trace the history of developments in a specific field and the role played by Spalding and his contributions. The volume also includes a biographical summary of Brian Spalding as a person and as a scientist, as well as tributes to Brian Spalding by those whose life was impacted by his innovations. This volume would be of special interest to researchers, practicing engineers, and graduate students in various fields, including aerospace, energy, power and propulsion, transportation, combustion, management of the environment, health and pharmaceutical sciences.