INFLUENCE OF AN EXTERNAL TANGENTIAL ELECTRIC FIELD ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CAPILLARY TURBULENCE OF THE FREE SURFACE OF A NON-CONDUCTING FLUID

Abstract

This paper presents a three-dimensional direct numerical simulation of the chaotic dynamics of the free surface of a dielectric fluid placed in an external tangential electric field. The physical model includes the effects of energy pumping (external force), energy dissipation (viscosity), and surface tension. As the external electric field strength increases, a transition from the turbulence of dispersive capillary waves (at zero field) to anisotropic electrohydrodynamic wave turbulence is observed. In the strong field limit, where the fluid motion becomes highly anisotropic, a cascade of small-scale capillary waves is formed that propagates perpendicular to the external field direction. In this regime of motion, a new turbulence spectrum occurs that differs from the classical spectrum of capillary turbulence.