Multiscale Simulation of Surface Nanostructure Effect on Bubble Nucleation

TL;DR

This study uses a hybrid atomistic-continuum simulation to examine how different nanostructured defects on copper surfaces influence bubble nucleation in liquid argon, revealing that wedge defects promote bubble formation more effectively.

Contribution

It introduces a molecular-level modeling approach to analyze how specific nanostructures on copper surfaces affect bubble nucleation in liquid argon.

Findings

Wedge defects facilitate easier bubble nucleation.

Larger defects promote bubble formation.

Surface nanostructure impacts bubble growth dynamics.

Abstract

Effects of nanostructured defects of copper solid surface on the bubble growth in liquid argon have been investigated through a hybrid atomistic-continuum method. The same solid surfaces with five different nanostructures, namely, wedge defect, deep rectangular defect (R-I), shallow rectangular defect (R-II), small rectangular defect (R-III) and no defect, have been modeled at molecular level. The liquid argon is placed on top of the hot solid copper with superheat of 30 K after equilibration is achieved with CFD-MD coupled simulation. Phase change of argon on five nanostructures has been observed and analyzed accordingly. The results showed that the solid surface with wedge defect tends to induce a nano-bubble relatively more easily than the others, and the larger the size of the defect is the easier the bubble generate.