Numerical simulation of traveling bubble cavitation

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose is to present a new approach for studying the phenomenon of traveling bubble cavitation.

Design/methodology/approach

A flow around a rigid, 2D hydrofoil (NACA‐0012) with a smooth surface is analyzed computationally. The Rayleigh‐Plesset equation is numerically integrated to simulate the growth and collapse of a cavitation bubble moving in a varying pressure field. The analysis is performed for both incompressible and compressible fluid cases. Considering the initial bubble radius as a uniformly distributed random variable, the probability density function of the maximum collapse pressure is determined.

Findings

The significance of the liquid compressibility during bubble collapse is illustrated. Furthermore, it is shown that the initial size of the bubble has a significant effect on the maximum pressure generated during the bubble collapse. The maximum local pressure developed during cavitation bubble collapse is of the order of 10⁴ atm.

Research limitations/implications

A single bubble model that does not account for the effect of neighboring bubbles is used in this analysis. A spherical bubble is assumed.

Originality/value

A new approach has been developed to simulate traveling bubble cavitation by interfacing a CFD solver for simulating a flow with a program simulating the growth and collapse of the bubble. Probabilistic analysis of the local pressure due to bubble collapse has been performed.

Citation

Mathew, S., Theo G. Keith Jr, T.G.K. and Nikolaidis, E. (2006), "Numerical simulation of traveling bubble cavitation", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 393-416. https://doi.org/10.1108/09615530610653055