Growth and Collapse Dynamics of a Vapor Bubble near or at a Wall

This study investigated the dynamics of vapor bubble growth and collapse for a laser-induced bubble. The smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method was utilized, considering the liquid and vapor phases as the van der Waals (VDW) fluid and the solid wall as a boundary. We compared our numerical results with analytical solutions of bubble density distribution and radius curve slope near a wall and the experimental bubble shape at a wall, which all obtained a fairly good agreement. After validation, nine cases with varying heating distances (L2 to L4) or liquid heights (h2 to h10) were simulated to reproduce bubbles near or at a wall. Average bubble radius, density, vapor mass, velocity, pressure, and temperature during growth and collapse were tracked. A new recognition method based on bubble density was recommended to distinguish the three substages of bubble growth: (a) inertia-controlled, (b) transition, and (c) thermally controlled. A new precollapse substage (Stage (d)) was revealed between the three growth stages and collapse stage (Stage (e)). These five stages were explained from the out-sync between the bubble radius change rate and vapor mass change rate. Further discussions focused on the occurrence of secondary bubbles, shockwave impact on the wall, system entropy change, and energy conversion. The main differences between bubbles near and at the wall were finally concluded.

Automated summary

This study investigated the dynamics of vapor bubble growth and collapse for a laser-induced bubble using smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method. Five stages were proposed to explain the process, including a new precollapse substage, revealing the out-sync between bubble radius change rate and vapor mass change rate. Differences between bubbles near and at the wall were also summarized.