Axis-switching and breakup of rectangular liquid jets

The behavior of low-speed liquid jets emerging from rectangular orifices into a quiescent air is studied numerically. After ejection, the rectangular cross-section transforms into an elliptical form along the jet and while axis-switching includes elliptical cross-sections only, the rectangular shape never establishes again. The optimum wavenumber, corresponding to the most dominant wave, is found to be greater in orifices with higher aspect ratios and, as a result, breakup length of the jet will be shorter. The breakup length decreases exponentially with the initial amplitude of disturbances. Moreover, it is observed that the form of final breakup leads to elimination of the satellite droplets at the optimum wavenumber with small and uniform main droplets. It is also shown that high-aspect ratio jets have a more extended range of effective disturbances. The results provide an in-depth insight into the effect of instabilities on axis-switching, breakup, and droplet formation. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.