Jonathan Sweet
Adrian Avila
Said Shakerin
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of the Pacific
Stockton, California

Image Credit: J. Sweet, A. Avila, and S. Shakerin (University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA)A new water feature based on water sheets

Water sheets have attracted the attention of researchers for many years. This image depicts the work of researchers who have used water sheets to develop a new, simple water feature that could be used in yard displays.

Water from a yard faucet enters a specially designed inlet block attached to an acrylic tube about eight inches long. The water spirals up the length of the tube, leaving a core of air in the center of the tube, and exits at the open end, where it forms a rotating water sheet. Eventually, instabilities cause the water sheet to disintegrate into drops.

An adjustable stand was designed to hold the water feature at a given angle (in this example, 15 degrees from the vertical). Also, moving the tube up, down, and sideways produces a playful water sheet and drops, though this is not shown in the image.

Reporters and Editors

This image can be freely reproduced with the accompanying credit: "J. Sweet, A. Avila, and S. Shakerin (University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA)."

References

• G. I. Taylor, "The Dynamics of Thin Sheets of Fluid," Proc. R. Soc., Vol. 253, pp. 289-321, 1959.
• C. Clanet, "Water Bells and Liquid Sheets," Annu. Rev. Fluid Mech., Vol. 39, pp. 469-496, 2007.

Contact Information

Said Shakerin, Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA 95211
sshakerin@pacific.edu