Impacting Dynamics of Droplets on Cylindrical Superhydrophobic Surfaces Decorated with a Convex Ridge

This work investigates the dynamic behavior of droplets on superhydrophobic cylindrical surfaces with a convex ridge through experimental analysis, focusing on the effects of varying the diameter ratio (D* = D/D0) and the ridge width ratio (δr = r/D0). Impact morphology diagrams are established to reveal the morphology transition of the droplet as a function of D* and δr. The splash threshold is obtained, and the energy loss during the collision process is analyzed by examining the recovery coefficient and the splitting angle, with the splitting threshold found to be dependent on δr. Additionally, the presence of the convex ridge modifies the anisotropic behavior of the droplet, leading to a 35% reduction in contact time compared to that of cylindrical superhydrophobic surfaces without a ridge. Analysis of the contact time reveals that azimuthal splitting time has the greatest influence on the overall contact time, with shorter azimuthal splitting time resulting in reduced contact time. This research aims to better understand the impact dynamics of droplets on cylindrical surfaces with a convex ridge, providing potential applications for anti-icing technologies.