Experimental study of the influence of mesoscale surface structuring on single bubble dynamics

In this study, we proposed a passive control method to control the dynamics of a laser-induced single cavitation bubble using mesoscale surface structuring. For this aim, we experimentally investigated the effects of different mesostructured V-shaped riblets on the dynamics of a laser-induced single cavitation bubble at four different relative wall distances. First, we captured the dynamics of a single cavitation bubble near a flat solid surface using a high-speed camera. Second, we analyzed the dynamics of a single cavitation bubble near the mesostructured riblets at different relative wall distances and compared with the bubble collapse dynamics near the flat solid surface. The results showed that the bubble dynamics near the riblets were different from the bubble dynamics near the flat solid surface. In addition, the microjet towards the riblet surface and the inclined or vertical jet after the first collapse were manipulated through the effects of riblets. This means the riblet structures can suppress or mitigate the microjet impact which can be formed during the first collapse near the riblet surface.

Automated summary

This study proposes a passive control method using mesoscale surface structuring to control the dynamics of a laser-induced single cavitation bubble. Experimental results show that mesostructured riblets can manipulate the dynamics of the bubble and suppress or mitigate the impact of microjets.