[en] The impact characteristics of spray droplets on plant surfaces was investigated based
on a multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model using the Volume Of Fluid
(VOF) approach. The contact angle of the droplet on different surfaces was measured and
included as a model parameter. The model was validated using experimental results that
were conducted on different plant surfaces (apple, pear, cabbage and leek) and the model
was applied to study the effect of droplet impact velocity, droplet diameter, formulation
and surface topology on droplet impact characteristics. For each combination of model
parameters, the model was capable of predicting the droplet impact outcome (adherence,
rebound, splash and shattering). The results showed that multiphase CFD model has a
capacity to predict the behavior of plant protection mixture droplets at impact on target
surfaces.
