Numerical simulation of an uncharged droplet in a uniform electric field

The deformations of a real dielectric droplet subjected to a uniform alternating electric field and immersed in an insulating fluid are numerically studied by the Boundary Element Method. The alternating electric field time scale is taken much smaller than the hydrodynamic time scale of the droplet shape deformation. The influence of the frequency and the conductivity of the droplet upon the critical electric field, beyond which instabilities develop, are compared with the experimental measurements. Numerical results well account for experimental data while an unexpected good correspondence with Taylor's theory is found. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.