It’s sink or skim: when solid bodies meet liquid layers

Ryan Palmer, University of Bristol Cambridge Fluids Network - fluids-related seminars 13 October 2023 4:00pm MR2 An intriguing question connects the nostalgia of the childhood game of stone skimming and the practical industrial problem of aircraft icing – what makes for a good skimmer? More formally, what properties of the solid body and its interaction with the liquid layer determine a successful skimming motion? For stone skimming the goal is the personal satisfaction of a several skims, whilst for industry the aim is to understand how particles skim and prevent ice build-up on aircraft. To this end we consider several aspects of fluid-body skimming interactions to try and better understand this complex fluid dynamic process. Focussing on smooth curved and heavy bodies, I will present several key insights gained from both analytical and numerical investigations that help to shed light on the underlying physics.