Original version
Journal of Fluid Mechanics. 2018, 846, 1076-1087, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2018.288
Abstract
In this theoretical and numerical study, we show how spatially extended fluctuationscan influence and dominate the dynamics of a fluid filled elastic blister as it deformsonto a pre-wetted solid substrate. To describe the blister dynamics, we develop astochastic elastohydrodynamic framework that couples the viscous flow, the elasticbending of the interface and the noise from the environment. We deploy a scalinganalysis to find the elastohydrodynamic spreading law ˆR∼ˆt1/11, whereˆRis thespreading radius andˆtis time, a direct analogue to the capillary spreading of drops,while the inclusion of noise in our model highlights that the dynamics speeds upsignificantlyˆR∼ˆt1/6as local changes in curvature at the spreading front enhancethe peeling of the elastic interface from the substrate. These fluctuations have apronounced influence on the shape of the deforming blister and lead to the formationof a precursor film similar to a perfectly wetting droplet. Moreover, our analysisidentifies a distinct criterion for the transition between the deterministic and thestochastic spreading regime, which is further illustrated by numerical simulations.