Bubble collapse and liquid jet formation in non-Newtonian liquids : Brown, S.W.J., Williams, P.R., University of Wales Swansea, Swansea, UK in AIChE journal, vol 45, issue 12, 1999

Abstract

Air guns can be used for seabed resource exploration, shock testing of naval vessels, polar ice breaking, etc. The study of air-gun bubble pulsation and near-field pressure is of great significance. In order to analyze the dynamic behavior and pressure characteristics of air gun bubble in detail and quantitatively, this study used the finite volume and volume of fluid methods to establish a compressible, three-dimensional air-gun bubble model in OpenFOAM (Open Field Operation and Manipulation). The characteristics of air-gun bubble pulsation and the surrounding flow-field pressures produced using various opening areas and forms were investigated. The maximum horizontal bubble displacement, main primary pulse, and bubble pulse were analyzed quantitatively. When the air-gun opening area was small, the bubble expansion time was short and the collapse time was long. The bubble surface was mostly smooth during the first bubble pulsation cycle. The bubble was nearly spherical when at its maximum volume. When collapse was nearly complete, an annular jet formed in the annular-opening air gun bubble, and four jets were formed from the four-opening air-gun bubble. The system with the largest air-gun opening area had the largest pressure wave primary pulse.