Thin liquid film on a vertical cylinder

For an exterior thin film, circumferential and axial curvature together give $h_t+(h^3[h_{zzz}+h_z+G]{)}_z/3=0$ in appropriate dimensionless variables. The $h_z$ term destabilizes long waves through the Rayleigh–Plateau instability, whereas $h_{zzz}$ damps short waves. The linear growth rate is $(k^2-k^4)/3-iGk$, with fastest growth at $|k|=1/\sqrt{2}$. The gravity parameter is $G=\rho g{a}^2/(\gamma ϵ)$ when film thickness is scaled as $ϵah$ and axial distance by cylinder radius $a$.

For a travelling wave of large positive speed in the cylindrical film equation, the leading core is proportional to $1-\cos x$ over an axial interval of length $2\pi$. Edge coordinates $X=(3c{)}^{1/3}(x-x_e)$ reduce the transition equation to $H^3{H}_{XXX}=H-1$. Its real positive exponent gives a monotone trailing approach and its complex stable exponents give damped capillary waves ahead, with physical wavelength $4\pi a/(3^{5/6}{c}^{1/3})$. Matching the two quadratic edge expansions selects the uniform film thickness; this is a matched asymptotic expansion, valid while the pulse itself remains thin relative to the cylinder.