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Impact of Vapor Bubble Collapse on Solid Structures

This study examines how collapsing vapor bubbles affect nearby solid materials.

Niklas Kolbe, Siegfried Müller

― 5 min read


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Table of Contents

This article discusses the interaction between a vapor bubble and a solid structure using a specific mathematical approach. We look at how a gas bubble can collapse when it is surrounded by liquid and how this affects a nearby solid object.

Background

When a vapor bubble collapses in a liquid, it can create shock waves and change pressures around it. This phenomenon is relevant in many fields, such as engineering, medicine, and biology. For example, it can cause damage to underwater structures, help break up kidney stones in medical treatments, or assist in various applications in biological research.

The Problem

We want to study how the bubble's collapse influences the solid structure. When the bubble collapses, it creates dynamic changes in the liquid, which then affects the stress and strain on the solid. Understanding this interaction is essential to avoid or manage potential damage.

The Models

To analyze this situation, we use two main models. The first model represents the solid structure as elastic, meaning it can deform but return to its original shape once the forces are removed. The second model describes the two phases of fluid: the vapor inside the bubble and the liquid surrounding it.

Solid Structure Model

This model focuses on how the solid reacts to the forces applied to it. We measure the changes in the solid's speed and the stress created due to the interaction with the fluid.

Two-Phase Fluid Model

The fluid model captures the behavior of both the vapor and the liquid. It represents the changes in each phase and how they interact with each other and the solid. This model is more complex due to the different properties of each phase.

Coupling The Models

To make our analysis accurate, we need to connect the solid and fluid models. This is done by imposing conditions that ensure the speeds and pressures match at the interface where the solid meets the fluid.

Conditions at the Interface

At the point where the solid and fluid meet, we require that:

  1. The speeds of the fluid and solid must be equal.
  2. The pressures exerted by both the fluid and the solid must balance each other.

Applying these conditions helps us better understand how the two materials interact.

Relaxation Approach

Instead of using traditional methods that might take longer to compute, we adopt a relaxation technique. This technique allows us to simplify the computations by gradually adjusting the system towards a stable state.

Jin-Xin Relaxation

This technique helps us break down the problem into smaller, manageable parts. We treat the solid and fluid separately initially and then blend their results, making sure they uphold the connection conditions at the interface.

Numerical Method

To solve the models, we use a numerical approach, which allows us to simulate the behavior of the solid and fluid over time.

Finite Volume Method

We divide the area of interest into smaller sections (cells) and apply computational techniques to determine how the properties of the materials change within each cell at different time intervals.

Implementation in Code

The numerical model is implemented in a computational program that will simulate the interaction over time. The program calculates new values for pressure, speed, and volume fractions based on the interaction of the solid and fluid.

Simulation Process

Once the models and Numerical Methods are set up, we run simulations to observe how the vapor bubble collapses near the solid.

Initial Conditions

We start with a specific setup. On one side of the interface, we have the solid defined by its material properties. On the other side, we have the fluid containing a vapor bubble surrounded by a liquid.

Running the Simulation

As the simulation progresses, we check how the fluid's pressure and speed change in response to the solid's reaction. We also monitor the volume fractions of the fluid phases to see how they evolve.

Observations from the Simulation

The results provide insights into how the collapse affects both the fluid and solid.

Pressure and Speed Changes

Throughout the simulation, we notice significant oscillations in both pressure and speed near the interface. These changes reflect the interaction between the fluid and solid as waves of pressure travel through the materials.

Phase Changes

We observe variations in the volume fractions of the two fluid phases. These changes reveal how the collapse of the bubble influences the proportion of vapor and liquid over time.

Importance of the Study

Understanding these interactions has extensive implications for various applications. Whether it is designing better underwater structures, improving medical procedures, or enhancing material behavior prediction, this research helps advance our knowledge.

Conclusion

This article presents a simplified view of how a collapsing vapor bubble interacts with a solid structure. Through effective modeling and numerical simulation, we can gain valuable insights into these complex interactions. Further studies can refine these models for better accuracy and application in real-world scenarios.

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