Tutorial

Screen Shot

(1) Menu Bar: menus such as "File", "Edit", "View", and "Help"

(2) Shortcut Bottons: The frequently-used functions are here.

(3) Command Input: Please type command here.

(4) Message Box: Messages and logs are shown here.

(5) Tool Bar: You can switch the function of mouse.

(6) 3D View: The 3D model of droplet and substrate surface is shown here.

(7) Information Panel: View settings and calculation conditions are shown here.

Tutorial

1. Create a text file with calculation conditions.

Create a new text file and type the calculation conditions in the format of "Command parameter1, parameter2, ...".

Please use standard text editors such as Notepad. Or you can also use Microsoft Excel, which might be more useful when typing many numbers. (If you use Excel, please save the file in a tab-delimited text file.)

Below is an example of text file.

UnitOfLength um // the unit of length you use

UnitOfVolume pL // the unit of volume you use

Outside 50 // the contact angle (degree) for default surface

Pattern 30 // the contact angle (degree) for newly-defined domain

P 50 20 // the outline of the new domain

P -50 20

P -50 -20

P 50 -20

Droplet 30 0 0 90 8 // create a droplet

// volume, center position (x, y),

// initial contact angle, the division level of mesh

An Example of a Text File

For other examples of text file, please see Samples Page.

2. Launch program and open the text file.

Double-click HyDro.jar or HyDro.exe to launch the program.

Go the menu "File" - "Open", and select the text file you created.

The calculation condition is loaded from the text file, and the initial droplet is shown in 3D view.

Screen After Opening Text File

3. Start the energy-minimization calculation.

Press "Update: Auto" button to start the energy-minimization calculation.

The calculation usually finishes in a few seconds.

Screen After Energy-Minimization Calculation

4. Refine the mesh if needed.

Press "Refine" button to make the mesh finer.

Then, press "Update: Auto" button and start the energy-minimization calculation again.

Screen After Mesh Refinement and Further Energy-Minimization Calculation

5. Show and export a variety of information.

You can color the droplet surface depending on the height or the slope of the surface.

Also you can export the data of droplet shapes and contact lines in several formats in order to work with other software.

Display Mode: HEIGHT

Display Mode: SLOPE