Physical and numerical modelling of biomimetic approaches of natural hydrophobic surfaces

Physical and numerical models of the hydrophobic and self-cleaning characteristics of an object surface are developed, and a micro/meso scope numerical approach and simulation based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is achieved. The modelling focuses on surface tension dominated behaviour of water droplets in air spreading on hydrophilic surface with hydrophobic strips of different sizes and contact angles under different physical and interfacial conditions. Applying the LBM model, the droplets behaviours on heterogeneous partial wetting surfaces are studied and simulated. In the simulations, the interactions between the fluid-fluid interface and the partial wetting wall are typically considered; the phenomena of droplets spreading and breaking up, as well as the effect of hydrophobic strips on the surface wettability or self-cleaning characteristics are simulated and studied. Supported by the UK Engineering Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) under EP/D500125/1 and International Cooperation Key Project of Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2005DFA00805)