Binary-fluid-solid interaction based on the Navier-Stokes-Korteweg equations

We consider a computational model for binary-fluid-solid interaction based on an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation of the Navier-Stokes-Korteweg equations, and we assess the predictive capabilities of this model. Due to the presence of two distinct fluid components, the stress tensor in the binary-fluid exhibits a capillary component in addition to the pressure and viscous-stress components. The distinct fluid-solid surface energies of the fluid components moreover lead to preferential wetting at the solid substrate. Compared to conventional FSI problems, the dynamic condition coupling the binary-fluid and solid subsystems incorporates an additional term associated with the binary-fluid-solid surface tension. We consider a formulation of the Navier-Stokes-Korteweg equations in which the free energy associated with the standard van-der Waals equation of state is replaced by a polynomial double-well function to provide better control over the diffuse-interface thickness and the surface tension. For the solid subsystem, we regard a standard hyperelastic model. We explore the main properties of the binary-fluid-solid interaction problem and establish a dissipation relation for the aggregated system. In addition, we present numerical results based on a fully monolithic approach to the complete nonlinear system. To validate the computational model, we consider the elasto-capillary interaction of a sessile droplet on a soft solid substrate and compare the numerical results with a corresponding solid model with fabricated fluid loads and with experimental data.