Dynamics of a drop in a constricted capillary tube

Abstract

Here we study the dynamics of a bubble or drop as it is driven by a pressure gradient through a capillary tube. For the case of a straight capillary, the drop can either approach a steady-state shape or the rear of the drop develops a re-entrant cavity. Also, depending on the initial conditions, the drop can break apart into smaller drops. For flow through a constricted capillary tube, depending on the physical parameters of the problem, the drop can either move through the constriction or break into two or more pieces as it moves past the constriction. We study this snap-off process numerically and determine the effect of the physical parameters on the dynamics of the drop.