Emergence and dynamics of gas-accelerated liquid sheets: Insights into liquid chain formation

This study examines the behavior of liquid chain, open rim, and transitional jet–liquid chain regimes in gas-accelerated liquid micro-sheets using experimentally validated numerical simulations. The simulations employ the finite volume method with a volume-of-fluid framework to resolve compressible ideal gas flow impinging on a Newtonian, laminar liquid jet under atmospheric conditions. Adaptive mesh refinement is used to resolve the gas–liquid interface. The validation of the model is performed based on a purpose-built experimental setup over the range of gas–liquid momentum flux ratios 0.03 2), dominant rim inertia prevents sheet closure. The Weber number (We), based on the nozzle inlet parameters, can predict the liquid chain regime in the range 1.5 ≲ MFR We0.84 ≲ 4. This relation provides practical guidance for stable liquid chain operation.