The stability and control of curved liquid jet break-up

An investigation into the break-up dynamics of a curved liquid jet has been studied. A comprehensive review of previous works on straight and curved jet break-up is given, with a detailed comparison between experimental investigation and theoretical models, showing the full uses and limitations of the linear and nonlinear models. A local stability analysis has been developed which can be used to investigate jet stability at any point on the jet at any time. The use of this model concerning break-up of a ligament and short wave generation at break-up is discussed. The Needham-Leach method is adopted to obtain the behaviour of linear and nonlinear waves in the large spatial and temporal limits. The onset of nonlinear wave instability as an implication in satellite drop formation is discussed. A solution to the jet equation is obtained which shows an example of Wilton's ripples, a feature of many other areas of fluid dynamics that has, to date, not been seen in liquid jet break-up. A vibrating nozzle has also been developed which, when vibrating in frequency regimes discovered in this thesis, can control the jet break-up such that satellite droplets are significantly reduced