Work

The Study on Cavitation Bubbles and Jet Dynamics in a Droplet

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study employs high-speed photography to investigate the collapse dynamics of laser-induced bubbles inside a pendant droplet, focusing on the effects of bubble-to-droplet radius ratio (λ) and eccentricity (ε). Additionally, a theoretical model describing the Kelvin impulse of the bubble is derived using the image method. Both the flow field and Kelvin impulse distributions are examined. The conclusions are given as follows: (1) Four jet patterns are identified with varying radius ratios: no jet, weak jet, strong jet, and complex jet. (2) The dominant role of radius ratio and eccentricity in the inhomogeneity and anisotropies of the velocity field is clarified. It manifests as a significant increase in the velocity difference between the bubble wall and the droplet surface along the bubble-droplet centerline. (3) Both the bubble migration velocity and Kelvin impulse intensity increase significantly with rising radius ratio and eccentricity. Larger bubbles closer to the droplet surface exhibit more intense interactions. Furthermore, the Kelvin impulse remains oriented toward the droplet center. As λ increases, the migration velocity of the bubble center can exceed 40 m/s, and the Kelvin impulse intensity can exceed 10−3 kg·m/s.

Source: Symmetry

DOI: 10.3390/sym18030545