The objective of our research is to study the multi-way interactions between turbulence and vaporizing liquid droplets via direct numerical simulation (DNS). DNS resolves, in 3D space and time, the freely-moving droplets as well as all the relevant length- and time-scales of the turbulent motion. Our DNS solves the unsteady three-dimensional Navier-Stokes and continuity equations throughout the whole computational domain, including the interior of the liquid droplets. The droplet surface motion and deformation are captured accurately by using the Level Set method. The pressure and viscosity jump conditions across the interface are accounted for via the Continuum Surface Force approach. We will present results of the first stage of our research which considers the shape change of an initially spherical liquid water droplet settling in quiescent air. The effects of surface tension are accounted for. We validate our results via comparison with available experimental studies.
