Toward Efficient Computation of Heat and Mass Transfer Effects in the Continuum Model for Bubbly Cavitating Flows

Abstract

The Rayleigh-Plesset equation is used extensively to model spherical bubble dynamics, yet it has been shown that it cannot correctly capture damping effects due to mass and thermal diffusion. Full single bubble models have been successfully used to study these diffusion effects, but these are too computationally expensive to implement into the continuum model for bubbly cavitating flows since the diffusion equations must be solved in the radial direction at each position in the flow. The focus of the present research is the development of simpler and more efficient bubble dynamic models that capture the important aspects of the diffusion processes. We present some preliminary results from a full bubble model that has been developed to provide insight into possible simplifications. This in turn can be used to develop and validate simpler models. The full model is contrasted to the Rayleigh-Plesset equation, and a suggestion for possible improvement to the Rayleigh-Plesset equation is made.