Numerical study of ferro‐droplet breakup initiation induced by a slowly rotating uniform magnetic field

Abstract

Abstract The fully three‐dimensional start‐up deformations and accelerations of initially spherical magnetically susceptable linearly magnetizable ferrofluid droplets, driven by a rotating uniform magnetic field, are investigated through the use of coupled finite element/boundary element computer simulations. For given magnetic susceptability, a critical viscosity is suggested, proportional to both magnetic field strength and rotation speed, below which the deformations of the initially spherical droplet inevitably lead to breakup, but above which a simple persistent spheroidal solid body rotation is attained.

Keywords

• droplet deformations
• ferrofluids
• finite/boundary elements
• rotating magnetic field