A droplet that impacts onto a solid substrate deforms in a complex dynamics. To extract the
principal mechanisms that dominate this dynamics, we deploy numerical simulations based
on the phase field method. Direct comparison with experiments suggests that a dissipation
local to the contact line limits the droplet spreading dynamics and its scaled maximum
spreading radius β max. By assuming linear response through a drag force at the contact
line, our simulations rationalize experimental observations for droplet impact on both smooth …

A droplet that impacts onto a solid substrate deforms in a complex dynamics. To extract the
principal mechanisms that dominate this dynamics, we deploy numerical simulations based
on the phase field method. Direct comparison with experiments suggests that a dissipation
local to the contact line limits the droplet spreading dynamics and its scaled maximum
spreading radius βmax. By assuming linear response through a drag force at the contact
line, our simulations rationalize experimental observations for droplet impact on both smooth …