title: Spreading of a micrometric fluid strip down a plane under controlled initial conditions.
abstract: We experimentally study the spreading of a small volume of silicon oil down a vertical plane with small Bond number. The initial condition is characterized by a horizontal long fluid strip with cross sectional area A and width w(0). We find that the experiments are characterized by a unique nondimensional parameter, R proportional w4(0)/(a2A), where a is the capillary length. An empirical criterium to estimate the onset of the contact line instability is established. The later rivulet formation at the contact line leads to a pattern which is characterized by a dominant wavelength. We find that this wavelength is approximately proportional to R(-1/4).
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Física Arroyo Seco, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Pinto 399, 7000, Tandil, Argentina. jgomba@exa.unicen.edu.ar
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gomba
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diez
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gratton