On the behavior of suspension of drops on an inclined surface

The flow of drops suspended on an inclined surface, are studied by numerical simulations at finite Reynolds numbers. The flow is driven by the acceleration due to gravity, and there is no pressure gradient in the flow direction. The effect of the Reynolds number, the Capillary number and density ratio on the distribution of drops and the fluctuation energy across the channel are investigated. It is found that drops tend to stay away from the channel floor, which is consistent with the behavior observed in the granular flow regime. Drops that are less deformable will stay further away from the channel floor. Also, drops appear at a larger distance from the floor as the Reynolds number increases. Simulations at large density ratios show that results are more compatible with computer simulations of granular flows. The behavior observed here resembles more the granular flow regime when the restitution coefficient is low.