On the equations of capillarity (Q5939519)

The author derives an interesting generalized capillary equation under global phenomenologial assumptions without recourse to consideration of intermolecular attractions. This theory includes compressible liquids, which admit a pressure-density relation. In this case, the author arrives under the pressure-density assumption \(\rho=\rho_0+\chi(p-p_0)\), with \(p_0,\;\rho_0\) the pressure and density at the base \(\Omega\) of the (cylindrical) container, and \(\chi>0\), at the equation \[ \text{ div} {Du\over\sqrt{1+|Du|^2}}={\rho_0 g\over\sigma}\left(u-{\chi\sigma\over\sqrt{1+|Du|^2}}\right)+\lambda \] on \(\Omega\), where \(g\) is gravity acceleration, \(\sigma\) is surface tension, and \(\lambda=\)const. Set \(M=\rho_0/ \chi g\int_\Omega(1-e^{-\chi g u}) dx\), then a necessary condition for existence of solution of this equation which achieves a prescribed boundary contact angle is the condition \(\rho_0|\Omega|-\chi g M>0\). When \(\Omega\) is a disk, then existence and comparison results are shown for rotationally symmetric solutions. The derived equations, in particular for compressible liquids, are certainly of importance for practical engineering.