Effects of a spherical slip cavity filled with micropolar fluid on a spherical micropolar droplet

Abstract

Abstract In this work, a two-fluid phase flow problem involving an axisymmetrical quasi-steady motion of a spherical micropolar droplet translating at a concentric point in a second non-mixable micropolar fluid within a spherical impermeable cavity with a slip surface is analysed under low Reynolds numbers. The two fluid phases that have a microstructure (micropolar fluid) are the case that is being focused on. The Stokes equations are solved inside and outside the droplet for the velocity fields. In addition, based on the concentric position, general solutions in terms of spherical coordinates are obtained. In this case, tangential couple stress and continuity of microrotation are used. For different cases, the normalised drag forces acting on the droplet are represented via graphs for different values of relative viscosity, droplet-to-cavity radii ratio, and the parameter that connects the tangential couple stress with microrotation. The normalised drag force is found to be a monotonically increasing function of the drop-to-cavity radii ratio. It is found that when the droplet-to-cavity radii ratio approaches zero, there is a very strong interaction between the droplet and the cavity. When comparing a solid sphere to a gas bubble, the normalised drag force is larger. Additionally, the results showed that permitting spin and slip at the cavity’s interior surface improved the wall correction factor influencing the droplet. The present study is important in the fields of natural, industrial, and biomedical processes such as raindrop formation, liquid–liquid extraction, suspension rheology, sedimentation, coagulation, and the motion of blood cells in an artery or vein.