Event Date
Tuesday, 30 June 2026 2:30 pm ~ 3:30 pm
Speaker
Associate Professor Jonathan Boreyko
（Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, U.S.A.）
Title
“15 Variations on a Theme of Jumping Droplets”
Abstract
When micro-droplets coalesce on a low adhesion substrate, they dramatically jump off the surface (Figure 1). Here, we develop the underlying fluid mechanics of jumping droplets and then present 15 variations on a theme of capillary-inertial jumping. In addition to being a fun and visceral illustration of the power of surface tension at the micro-scale, capillary-inertial jumping has the potential to improve the energy efficiency of a wide variety of practical systems. Examples include enhancing the condensation heat transfer coefficient, enabling self-cleaning materials, combating frost formation, and even enhancing crop yields.
Figure 1: Side-view high-speed imaging of jumping-droplet condensation.
Chair
Associate Professor Zhenying Wang
(Multiscale Science and Engineering for Energy and the Environment Thrust)
Language
English
