초록
In the present study, the principle of minimum energy is employed to configure the shape of rivulet flowing down an inclined surface. The profile of laminar rivulet is determined by numerical integration. The maximum center thickness, which corresponds to the minimum thickness of falling film, is found to exist regardless of liquid flow rate and is compared with the analytical and experimental data. At small liquid flow rate the center thickness of rivulet and its width increase almost linearly with flow rate. Once the center thickness of rivulet becomes very close to its maximum value, its growth rate retards abruptly. However the width of rivulet increases proportionally to the liquid flow rate and most part of its free surface is as flat as that of stable film. The growth rate of rivulet thickness with respect to liquid flow rate becomes larger at bigger contact angle. The width of rivulet increases rapidly with its flow rate especially at small contact angle, As the liquid-vapor interfacial shear stress increases, the center thickness of rivulet decreases with its flow rate, which is remarkable at small contact angle. However the effect of interfacial shear stress on the width of rivulet is almost negligible.
