Surface texture and pulsation due to balloon bursting in different liquids

TL;DR

This study investigates the surface textures and pulsation phenomena during balloon bursting in various liquids, revealing how viscosity influences surface smoothness and bubble oscillations post-burst.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the fluid dynamic instabilities and surface behaviors during balloon rupture in different liquids, highlighting the effects of viscosity and internal pressure.

Findings

Surface becomes smoother with higher viscosity.

Bubbles pulsate multiple times after rupture.

Higher internal pressure enhances oscillations.

Abstract

We study the instabilities occurring during the burst of an air balloon in a liquid. These instabilities are typical for the deformation of an interface between two fluids of different densities, similar to fingering in Rayleigh-Taylor instability (see e.g. Sharp, 1984). In the Video a series of bursts are shown for air balloons in different liquids. When the balloon tears it tracks the surface, generating wrinkles and releasing the pressure inside. Apparently, the texture of the surface during the burst becomes smoother as the viscosity increases. During the burst the surface breaks and generates several small bubbles. Furthermore, the pressure inside the balloon is higher than the external pressure before the burst; once the balloon tears the pressure is released and the generated bubbles pulsate several times (see e.g. Brennen, 1995). Such oscillations are more evident for higher internal pressures.