Numerical simulation of bubble dynamics in central region of streamer

Abstract

A mathematical model and a numerical technique for studying strong expansion and collapse of cavitation bubbles located in the central region of a streamer where the bubbles are almost motionless are developed. They are essentially efficient combinations of the models and techniques previously created by the authors for calculating the dynamics of interacting weakly-non-spherical bubbles in a streamer and the dynamics of a single axisymmetric bubble. The first model and technique are applied at the low-speed stage of expansion and compression of bubbles where their hydrodynamic interaction is significant. The second ones are used at the final high-speed stage of their collapse where the interaction is inessential. The simplest case of the streamer comprising three bubbles is considered as an example to illustrate the features of the developed model and numerical technique. It is shown that under the strong expansion and collapse of an initially spherical cavitation bubble, the presence of neighboring bubbles can substantially deflect the bubble cavity vapor dynamics from what is realized inside a similar but single bubble.