Long-wave instabilities of heated falling films: Two-dimensional theory of uniform layers

A layer of volatile viscous liquid drains down a uniformly heated inclined plate. Long-wave instabilities of the uniform film are studied by deriving an evolution equation for two-dimensional disturbances. This equation incorporates viscosity, gravity, surface tension, thermocapillarity, and evaporation effects. The linear theory derived from this describes the competition among the instabilities. Numerical solution of the evolution equation describes the finite-amplitude behaviour that determines the propensity for dryout of the film. Among the phenomena that appear are the tendency to wave breaking, the creation of secondary structures, and the pre-emption of dryout by mean flow.