Eur. Phys. J. B 23, 79-86 (2001)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510170084

Rupture energy of a pendular liquid bridge

¹ LPMDI, Université de Marne-la-Vallée, bâtiment Lavoisier, 5 boulevard Descartes, Champs-sur-Marne, 77454 Marne-la-Vallée Cedex 2, France
² LMSGC, 2 allée Kepler, Cité Descartes, 77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France

Corresponding author: ^a pitois@univ-mlv.fr

Received: 18 September 2000
Revised: 10 June 2001
Published online: 15 September 2001

Abstract

We propose a simple expression for the rupture energy of a pendular liquid bridge between two spheres, taking into account capillary and viscous (lubrication) forces. In the case of capillary forces only, the results are in accordance with curve fitting expressions proposed by Simons et al. [2] and Willett et al. [5]. We performed accurate measurements of the force exerted by liquid bridges between two spheres. Experimental results are found to be close to theoretical values. A reasonable agreement is also found in the presence of viscous forces. Finally, for small bridge volumes, the rupture criterion given by Lian et al. [10] is modified, taking into account additional viscous effects.