Experimental Investigations on the Deformation and Breakup of Hundred-Micron Droplet Driven by Shock Wave

Abstract

This study examines the process of a 240 µm droplet breakup under a shock wave through experiments using a double-pulse laser holographic test technique on a shock tube. The technique allowed for high-resolution data to be obtained at the micron-nanosecond level, including the Weber number distribution of deformation and breakup modes for droplets of different sizes and loads. Results were compared with larger droplets at the same Weber number, revealing that higher Weber numbers result in more difficulty in droplet breakup, longer deformation times, and increased deformation behavior. At low Weber numbers within the critical range, changes in droplet diameter affect the Rayleigh–Taylor waves and alter the droplet’s characteristics. The study also investigates the laws and reasons behind windward displacement variation for hundred-micron droplets at different Weber numbers over time.