Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of Deformation of a Single Drop under Uniform Electric Field

In this paper, deformation of a drop suspended in another immiscible fluid that is influenced by an external uniform electric field is investigated through fully 3D numerical simulations. The electric field is applied by imposing an electric potential difference in the ambient fluid. The Leaky dielectric model is used to obtain the electric field, charge distribution and eventually applied electric force at the interface. This force creates both oblate and prolate shapes, and also induces various Electrohydrodynamic flows inside and outside of the drop depending on the conductivity and permittivity ratio of the drop and the ambient fluid. A finite difference/front-tracking method is used. The results are presented for a wide range of non-dimensional parameters for predicting the drop deformation quantitatively and qualitatively. Different flow patterns are induced inside and outside of the drop. The results show a good agreement with theoretical and experimental results in the literature. For the sake of consideration of the problem in more detail, four specific cases are investigated.