Numerical research on the cavitation effect induced by underwater multi-point explosion near free surface

In this study, the cavitation effect induced by two charges in underwater explosions near free surfaces is numerical researched by two dimensional compressible multiphase fluids based on a four-equation system with a phase transition model. The occurrence of the generation, development, and collapse of cavitation in two-charge underwater explosions near free surfaces can be captured directly. The detailed density, pressure, and vapor volume fraction contours during the interaction process are obtained and can better reveal the characteristic underlying the cavitation, free surface, and explosion bubbles. Numerical results reveal that the cavitation domain has expanded to an area much deeper than the explosion bubble location in two-charge underwater explosions, which should be paid enough attention due to its influence on the input load of underwater structures. The detailed density and pressure contours during the interaction process can also be captured and can better reveal the mechanism underlying the explosion bubble, cavitation, and surface wave dynamics. The present results can expand the currently limited database of multiphase fluid in underwater explosions and also provide new insights into the strong nonlinear interaction between underwater explosion and cavitation, which provides a deep understanding of multi-point explosions.(c) 2023 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Automated summary

The cavitation effect induced by two charges in underwater explosions near free surfaces is numerically investigated using a four-equation system with a phase transition model. The generation, development, and collapse of cavitation can be directly captured. The density, pressure, and vapor volume fraction contours provide detailed information about cavitation, free surfaces, and explosion bubbles. The expansion of the cavitation domain beyond the location of the explosion bubble in two-charge underwater explosions is of significant importance for the load on underwater structures. The results also shed light on the mechanism underlying the interaction between explosion bubbles, cavitation, and surface wave dynamics, expanding the currently limited database on multiphase fluid behavior in underwater explosions.