Film flows down a fiber: Modeling and influence of streamwise viscous diffusion

A two-equation model is formulated in terms of two coupled evolution equations for the film thickness h and the local flow rate q within the framework of lubrication theory. Consistency is achieved up to first order in the film parameter epsilon and streamwise diffusion effects are accounted for. The evolution equation obtained by Craster and Matar [1] is recovered in the appropriate limit. Comparisons to the experimental results by [2] and [3] show good agreement in the linear and nonlinear regimes. Second-order viscous diffusion terms are found to potentially enhance the speed and amplitude of nonlinear waves triggered by the Rayleigh-Plateau instability mechanism. Time-dependent computations of the spatial evolution of the film reveal a strong influence of streamwise diffusion on the dynamics of the flow and the wave selection process.