Stokes theory of thin-film rupture

Abstract

The structure of the ow induced by the van der Waals destabilization of a non-wetting liquid film placed on a solid substrate is studied by means of theory and numerical simulations of the Stokes equations. Our analysis reveals that lubrication theory, which yields hmin / 1=5 where hmin is the minimum film thickness and is the time until breakup, cannot be used to describe the local flow close to rupture. Instead, the slender lubrication solution is shown to experience a crossover to a universal self-similar solution of the Stokes equations that yields hmin / 1=3, with an opening angle of 37º off the solid.