Wetting, capillaries and water pressure
- Surface tension
The curved interface illustrates the effect of surface tension. Surfactants and contamination can change liquid entry behaviour.
- Contact angle / wettabilityThis term
The contact angle is defined at the solid-liquid interface. A water result cannot establish oil or detergent wettability.
- Capillary action
The liquid can rise or travel in a wettable narrow gap. Cable strands or internal voids can form paths beyond the outer seal.
- Hydrostatic pressure
The longer lower arrow represents increasing hydrostatic loading with depth. Apply the actual fluid density and pressure conditions.
The fluid interface can curve, spread over a surface, enter a narrow gap or apply pressure with depth. These mechanisms affect cable paths as well as the external gland seal.
Conceptual fluid sketches with exaggerated menisci and no numerical pressure. Fluid identity, contamination, surface condition and temperature influence the result.