Bubble Collapse and Jet Formation in Corner Geometries

TL;DR

This study investigates bubble collapse and jet formation in corner geometries, providing experimental insights and potential flow analysis predictions for jet directions across various corner angles, including special analytic solutions.

Contribution

It introduces experimental and analytical methods to predict bubble jet directions in corner geometries with different opening angles, extending understanding beyond flat boundaries.

Findings

Potential flow analysis accurately predicts jet directions.

Analytic solutions exist for corners with angles of π/n.

Solutions cover from single wall to parallel walls cases.

Abstract

The collapse of a vapor bubble near a flat solid boundary results in the formation of a jet that is directed towards the boundary. In more complex geometries such as corners, predictions of the collapse cannot be made in a straightforward manner due to the loss of axial symmetry. We experimentally investigate the bubble collapse and jet formation in corners formed of two flat solid boundaries with different opening angles. Using potential flow analysis, we accurately predict the direction of the jet and bubble displacement. We further show that for a corner with an opening angle $\alpha$, there exist analytic solutions that predict the jet direction for all the cases $\alpha=\pi/n$, where $n$ is a natural number. These solutions cover, in discrete steps, the full range of corners from the limiting case of a bubble near a single wall ($n=1$) up to a bubble in between parallel walls ($n\rightarrow\infty$).