What Is the Rayleigh-Plateau Capillary Jet Breakup Calculator?
The Rayleigh-Plateau instability causes a falling liquid stream to spontaneously pinch off into droplets.
Perturbations with wavelength λ > 2π·R0 reduce total surface area and free energy, driving growth.
How Does the Rayleigh-Plateau Capillary Jet Breakup Calculator Work?
Among all unstable modes, disturbances with non-dimensional wavenumber k·R0 = 0.697 grow fastest.
This yields a dominant breakup wavelength λopt ≈ 9.02·R0, producing droplets with diameter roughly 1.89 times the initial jet diameter.
Rayleigh-Plateau Capillary Jet Breakup Calculator Formula & Variables
The core mathematical equation utilized by this calculator is expressed as:
Rayleigh optimal capillary instability wavelength and droplet formation scaling.
How to Use the Rayleigh-Plateau Capillary Jet Breakup Calculator
- Input initial nozzle jet radius, fluid density, surface tension, and velocity.
- Review optimal breakup wavelength, droplet diameter, and continuous jet length before breakup.
Step-by-Step Example Calculation
Continuous Inkjet Printhead Nozzle
Input Values:
Understanding Your Result
Applying acoustic piezo vibration at frequency f = V / λopt triggers deterministic, uniform droplet generation.
Factors That Affect the Result
- High fluid viscosity introduces Ohnesorge damping, shifting optimal wavelengths to longer values.
When Should You Use This Calculator?
- Continuous inkjet (CIJ) printing, fuel injector atomization, pharmaceutical nebulizers, and micro-droplet generation.
Assumptions & Limitations
- Assumes an inviscid, cylindrical liquid column in quiescent ambient air.
Frequently Asked Questions
Calculation Accuracy & Reference Note
Classic Lord Rayleigh (1879) linear capillary instability formulation.