Numerical modelling of acoustic cavitation threshold in water with non-condensable bubble nuclei

Numerical modelling of acoustic cavitation threshold in water is presented taking into account non-condensable bubble nuclei, which are composed of water vapor and non-condensable air. The cavitation bubble growth and collapse dynamics are modeled by solving the Rayleigh-Plesset or Keller-Miksis equation, which is combined with the energy equations for both the bubble and liquid domains, and directly evaluating the phase-change rate from the liquid and bubble side temperature gradients. The present work focuses on elucidating acoustic cavitation in water with a wide range of cavitation thresholds (0.02-30 MPa) reported in the literature. Computations for different nucleus sizes and acoustic frequencies are performed to investigate their effects on bubble growth and cavitation threshold. The numerical predictions are observed to be comparable to the experimental data in the previous works and show that the cavitation threshold in water has a wide range depending on the bubble nucleus size.

Automated summary

In this study, numerical modeling of the acoustic cavitation threshold in water is conducted, taking into consideration non-condensable bubble nuclei composed of water vapor and non-condensable air. The dynamics of cavitation bubble growth and collapse are simulated by solving the Rayleigh-Plesset or Keller-Miksis equation and evaluating the phase-change rate from temperature gradients. The research focuses on elucidating the wide range of cavitation thresholds reported in the literature and investigates the effects of nucleus size and acoustic frequencies on bubble growth and cavitation threshold. The numerical predictions are in agreement with previous experimental data and reveal that the cavitation threshold in water has a wide range depending on the bubble nucleus size.