Modelling the Liquid Droplet Impact Behaviour of Polymer Materials

In this study, we propose a multi-physics phase field model to predict the material degradation of polymer materials under liquid droplet impact. This model employs the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) technique in conjunction with a predefined multiphysics interface for Two-Phase Flow and Phase Field. The ALE method captures the dynamics of the deforming geometry and evolving boundaries through a moving grid. The boundary between water and air is tracked using the phase-field method. Meanwhile, the deformable solid is modelled using a variety of constitutive models, including linear elastic, Von Mises plasticity, and continuum damage mechanics. The computational model is subsequently validated against the experimental results. The displacement, strain distribution, and strain wave history from both modelling and experiment are compared. Our model demonstrates good qualitative agreement with the experimental results. The plasticity model or fracture model also provides insights into the failure mechanisms. This preliminary work opens a new avenue to model the degradation of polymer materials under extreme conditions.