Tools to estimate filling and draining

Jonas Larsson

Today I got a rather tricky question from a manufacturing expert. They are looking for a tool to help them to assess what happens when you dip a rather complex component into a liquid.

They want to be able to assess how the liquid fills all holes and cavities in the component. How the component should be turned and twisted to ensure filling everywhere, and then as the component is lifted up, how the liquid drains from all holes and cavities in the component.

Not exactly the normal kind of fluid-dynamics problem for a turbomachinery aero guy like me. Anyone have any ideas? Are there tools out there to do this kind of assessment? The geometry of these components are usually quite complex.

Typical applications are dip-painting and treatment of casted components with various etching liquids etc.