TIPSTREAMING OF DROPS IN SIMPLE SHEAR FLOWS

The tipstreaming phenomenon, as observed in simple shear flows, has been analysed. Tipstreaming in simple shear flows is a mode of droplet break-up in which the droplet develops a sigmoidal shape and a stream of tiny droplets is ruptured off the tips of the drop. Suggested causes of the tipstreaming phenomenon have been tested experimentally. It was found that tipstreaming can occur if interfacial tension gradients can develop, resulting in low interfacial tension at the tips and a higher tension elsewhere. Tipstreaming will not occur at extremely low surface active material levels, when the interfacial tension can not even be lowered locally, nor at high levels where there is so much surface active material present that the interfacial tension will be low all over the droplet.