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  • Open Access

Rayleigh-Plateau instability on an angled and eccentric wire

Dilip Kumar Maity1,*, Christopher Wagstaff2, Sandip Dighe1, and Tadd Truscott1,†

  • *Contact author: dilip.maity@kaust.edu.sa
  • †Contact author: taddtruscott@gmail.com
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 10, 113901 – Published 3 November, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/lmmx-fmtb

Abstract

This research explores the modulation of Rayleigh-Plateau instability by adjusting the orientation angle and eccentricity of a wire within a nozzle. We demonstrate that both the angle and eccentricity significantly influence the Rayleigh-Plateau instability regimes. They both also influence characteristics, such as bead velocity along the wire, bead spacing (wavelength), and bead volume. Notably, when wires are both angled and eccentric, the effect of angle prevails. Our approach includes an empirical scaling analysis, comparing gravity, and viscosity forces on a single bead, yielding a unified empirical viscous force law, and enhancing understanding of Rayleigh-Plateau regime dynamics. This framework enriches our understanding of the forces at play in Rayleigh-Plateau instability and provides practical insights into the manipulation of fluid dynamics in industrial applications.

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Phys. Rev. Fluids 10, 113901– Published 3 November, 2025
  • Received 19 May 2024
  • Accepted 7 October 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI. Open access publication funded by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

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