A new model for an underwater explosion bubble

Abstract

A new model for a moderately deep underwater explosion bubble is developed that integrates the shockwave and oscillation phases of the motion. A hyperacoustic relationship is formulated that relates bubble volume-acceleration to far-field pressure profile during the shockwave phase, thereby providing initial conditions for the subsequent oscillation phase. For the latter, new equations are derived that include wave effects in both the external liquid and the internal gas. The equations are then specialized to the case of a spherical bubble, and bubble–surface displacement histories are calculated for dilational and translational motion. Agreement between these histories and experimental data is found to be good. [Research sponsored by the DTRA and ONR.]