78th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics (Nov 23 — 25, 2025)

P021: Blowing Liquid Flames

Authors
  • Siddhant Jain, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
  • Saini Jatin Rao , Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
  • Saptarshi Basu , Indian Institute of Science Bangalore

An underwater oil droplet subjected to a cross-flowing water jet exhibits complex breakup dynamics. When the jet strikes the upper half of the droplet, it shears away material through the action of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. A droplet is seen pinching off, tethered by thin curling ligaments to the main body, which itself bears undulating imprints of the jet's impact. These ligaments, stretched by shear and capillary forces, suspend the fragmented portion, giving the entire configuration the visual impression of a flame being blown in a viscous medium but with minimal density contrast at the interface.

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