Geometry effects on the droplet shock-induced cavitation

Abstract

Assessment of geometry effects affecting shock-induced cavitation within a droplet is investigated for the first time. To do this, we use a thermodynamically well-posed multiphase numerical model accounting for phase compression and expansion, which relies on a finite pressure-relaxation rate formulation and which allow for heterogeneous nucleation. These geometry effects include the shape of the transmitted wave front, which is related to the shock speed to droplet sound speed ratio and the droplet geometry (cylindrical vs spherical). Phenomenological differences between the column and the droplet configurations are presented. In addition, the critical Mach number for cavitation appearance is determined for both cases: between M = 1.8 and M = 2 for the column, and between M = 2 and M = 2.2 for the droplet. Based on the transmitted wavefront geometry, with Mach number varying from 1.6 to 6, two cavitation regimes have been identified, and the transition has been characterized: an exponentially (M < 4.38) and a linearly (M > 4.38) increasing bubble-cloud volume. On more applied aspects, we also investigate the influence of the bubble cloud on the interface disruption and compare the results against the pure liquid droplet test case. A parallel with the technique of effervescent atomization is eventually presented.