Electromechanical effect on water droplets under AC high voltage

Water droplets that form on the surface of outdoor insulating materials have the ability to experience deformation when subjected to an external electric field. This paper aims at studying the electromechanical effect the droplet experiences when subdued to an external AC voltage. Single and multiple droplets were placed on a piece of insulating fiberglass between an energised and grounded copper electrodes and the voltage increased until flashover occurred. A simulated model has been completed on COMSOL, multi-physics software, to gather an understanding of the forces produced on the droplet due to the application of an external electric field. Thus far, the major force acting on the droplet is due to the Maxwell Stress, a force accompanied with the application of an electric field. The outcome of this study will aid the understanding of the electromechanical effects present on water droplets in an external electric field on hydrophobic surfaces.