Development of a three-dimensional simulation system for micro-inkjet and its experimental verification

A three-dimensional computer-aided analysis system has been developed in this study to simulate the formation, ejection, and impact of a liquid droplet in a squeeze-type piezoelectric inkjet printing device. The computer simulation system is based on a solution algorithm (SOLA) scheme for the solution of velocity and pressure fields. It is coupled with volume-of-fluid (VOF) and piecewise-linear interface construction (PLIC) techniques for the transport of F values, which are the volume fractions of liquid in the cells, and construction of the interface. For the treatment of surface tension effects, a CSF (continuum surface force) model is employed. The pressure at the nozzle inlet, which is related to the applied voltage, imposed on the simulation system is determined by the propagation theory of acoustic waves. The simulated results are rather consistent with the experimental observations in terms of droplet morphology, break-up time, flying distance, and droplet volume.