Abstract:
The microtopography of superhydrophobic surfaces significantly influences droplet impact dynamics. However, current research has predominantly focused on the amplitude of surface roughness, leaving the specific effects of the spatial distribution of surface peaks and valleys on droplet-wall interactions largely unexplored. In this study, a combined experimental and numerical approach is employed to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which superhydrophobic surfaces—sharing identical roughness amplitudes but differing in peak-valley features—modulate droplet impact behavior. Two distinct types of surfaces, namely micro-pillar arrays (positive skewness,
Ssk > 0) and micro-cavity arrays (negative skewness,
Ssk < 0), were fabricated using picosecond laser processing. By integrating a high-speed imaging system with a Volume of Fluid (VOF) multiphase flow model, the sequential behaviors of droplet spreading, retraction, splashing, and bouncing were comprehensively analyzed. The results indicate that at equivalent roughness levels, the splashing tendencies of droplets on these two surface types exhibit fundamentally opposing roughness dependencies. Specifically, at lower roughness values, the micro-cavity surfaces are more prone to inducing droplet splashing; conversely, at higher roughness levels, the splashing propensity of the micro-pillar surfaces surpasses that of the micro-cavities. This phenomenon is attributed to the underlying competition between flow field instabilities and the cushioning effect of trapped air pockets. Furthermore, while the maximum spreading diameter is primarily dictated by the initial impact energy—yielding only marginal differences between the two array types—the rebound height demonstrates significant discrepancies. The micro-cavity arrays yield slightly higher rebounds at low Weber numbers, whereas the micro-pillar arrays dominate at high Weber numbers. Kinematic analysis further reveals that droplets on micro-cavity arrays undergo a more rapid deceleration during the spreading phase, while those on micro-pillar arrays experience more severe velocity fluctuations during retraction. This research provides a solid theoretical foundation for understanding how peak-valley characteristics modulate droplet dynamics on superhydrophobic surfaces, offering practical guidelines for the targeted design of functional interfaces.