Contact-point analysis of attached-wall cavitation evolution on chemically patterned surfaces using the lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract

In this study, we aim to investigate the contact-point characteristics of cavitation bubble evolution on different chemically patterned surfaces using the thermal pseudopotential lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The local temperature variation is considered in the contact-point dynamics simulation. Force analysis is performed on the contact points, and two main controlling factors for contact-point dynamics are identified, namely, the local pressure difference and the unbalanced Young’s force. A dimensionless temperature is used to describe the heat exchange efficiency between the wall and fluids for different wall wettability and temperatures. The attached-wall bubble on the wet wall has an unbalanced Young’s force, which is directed toward the inside of the bubble throughout the entire growth and collapse stages at the contact point, resulting in a smaller contact radius and stronger collapse intensity and making the wet wall more suitable for wall cooling. Significant pressure differences are observed at the contact points owing to local momentum concentration. In contrast, the non-wetting wall surface is more suitable for wall heating because of its smaller collapse intensity and larger contact radius on the wall.