Justine Parmentier - The Fluid Dynamics of Speleothem Growth

Stalagmites grow on the floor of caves by precipitation of calcium ions found in the residual water film covering the top of the stalagmite, which is progressively drained away. Drops dripping from stalactites ensure the renewal of these ions.
Previous models of stalagmite growth assumed that drops fall on a straight vertical line from stalactites. Through high-speed imaging during field experiments in caves, we however observe that the impact point position of the drops is scattered. Using a Langevin-like equation to describe the fall of drops in response to gravity and aerodynamic forces, we then propose a prediction of the impact point dispersal. We show that measured stalagmite widths are correlated to the impact point dispersal of the drops.
In a second time, we focus on the mixing of calcium ions between the drop and the film during impact. The drop produces a crown when impacting the film, accompanied by a large amount of secondary droplet ejections. This is at the very heart of the film thickness variability post-impact. We record high-speed imaging of drop impacts on films of controlled thickness in a lab environment and assess the mixing between the drop and the film. We deduce how much liquid coming from the initial drop remains in the film.