Growth, Pulsation, and Collapse of a Gas-Filled Cavitation Bubble

Abstract

A mathematical formalism has been developed for studying the dynamics of small gas-filled cavities in liquids under the influence of acoustic pressure fields. The formalism takes into account the effects of compressibility and heat conduction within the cavity, of compressibility, heat conduction, and viscosity in the surrounding liquid, and of the surface tension of the interface. The formalism consists of a set of algebraic, differential, and integral equations, and computer solutions of this set of equations have been obtained. The results of these calculations will be used to discuss the growth of cavities from some equilibrium state, the free pulsations of cavities, and the collapse of cavities. The main objective will be to provide insight of the relative importance of such effects as compressibility, heat conduction, viscosity, and surface tension on the motion of cavities. [The work described was carried out in cooperation with the Acoustics Research Laboratory at Harvard University and was supported by the Acoustics Programs of the Office of Naval Research under contract with the University of Rochester and with Harvard University.]