Static liquid bridges
by
Patrick Rynhart
Institute of Fundamental Sciences (Mathematics) Massey University
Coauthors: Robert McKibbin (IFS Mathematics), Jim Jones (Institute of Technology and Engineering, Massey University)

A liquid bridge occurs when a droplet of fluid is attached between two small neighbouring particles. The resultant configuration is subject to minimum entropy criteria which causes the bridge to have constant mean curvature. Important parameters to the solution of this problem are the density and surface tension properties of the fluid, the liquid bridge neck size, and the difference between the internal pressure of the bridge and the external (atmospheric) pressure. Generic results will be presented for static liquid bridge configurations while maintaining a constant volume.

Date received: September 28, 2000

Copyright © 2000 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # caek-33.