Shock wave induced by the collapse of a bubble cluster with each bubble distributed randomly

Abstract

The phenomenon of bubble collapse is ubiquitous in both natural and industrial settings, often manifesting in the form of bubble clusters. Despite its prevalence, there has been limited research on the dynamics of bubble clusters. In order to gain a better understanding of shock wave emission, liquid jet propagation, and the resulting pressure loads during bubble cluster collapse, we have developed a high-fidelity numerical approach aimed at accurately capturing shock waves and phase interfaces. The interface compression technique is introduced into the compressible two-phase model to improve the sharpness of the phase interface. We solve the physical model using the BVD (Boundary Variation Diminishing) principle. Both the 5th order WENO (Weighted Essentially Non-Oscillatory) scheme and the interface capturing function THINC (Tangent of Hyperbola for INterface Capturing) are utilized to reconstruct primary variables at cell boundaries, effectively minimizing numerical dissipation. For further resolution improvement, we implement these numerical methods on the AMR (Adaptive Mesh Refinement) mesh. Our numerical results demonstrate that the distance between the wall and the bubble cluster, as well as the nearest bubble to the wall, significantly influence the wall peak pressure. However, they have a minimal impact on the overall evolution of the bubble cluster and the peak pressure induced in the flow field. Remarkably, the spatial distribution of bubbles and the total number of bubbles play a crucial role in shaping the dynamic behavior of the bubble cluster and the pressure loads exerted both on the solid wall and in the flow field. The crucial findings offer profound insights into a range of applications, including cavitation erosion, underwater explosions, and drug delivery.