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Self-similar and universal dynamics in drainage of mobile soap films

Antoine Monier1,*, François-Xavier Gauci1, Cyrille Claudet1, Franck Celestini1, Christophe Brouzet1, and Christophe Raufaste1,2

  • *Contact author: antoine.monier95@gmail.com
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 9, 124001 – Published 3 December, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.9.124001

Abstract

Vertical soap films drain under the influence of gravity, as indicated by the downward motion of colorful horizontal interference fringes observed on their surfaces. In this study conducted with rectangular soap films, we experimentally characterize the descent dynamics of these isothickness fringes and report its self-similar nature, which additionally features a power law relationship between thickness and time. We also show that this result is equivalent to thickness profiles exhibiting a separation of space and time. By integrating new measurements with data from the literature across various conditions, we validate these properties and establish the universality of the dynamics by collapsing all data onto a single master curve. Our findings provide a general framework to compare studies with each other and thus pave the way toward a comprehensive characterization of the drainage of vertical soap films, along with the mechanism of marginal regeneration at the origin of the process.

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References (37)

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Outline

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Phys. Rev. Fluids 9, 124001– Published 3 December, 2024
  • Received 3 January 2024
  • Accepted 25 October 2024
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