Equilibrium of drops on inclined fibers.
Why is it that drops do not slip down inclined thin fibers or spider silks? The possible explanation is based on the existence of fiber size, which causes a sustaining force that pins these drops. Following this explanation, the drop remains in equilibrium until a critical value of the sustaining force is reached. We suggest an alternative analyses, from the point of view of the inclined fiber at which the drop slips down is predicted. This result does not depend explicitly on silk surface roughness, but only on the drop size and surface tensions.
Huang
Zhongbing
Z
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
Liao
Xiaoming
X
Kang
Yunqing
Y
Yin
Guangfu
G
Yao
Yadong
Y