The early stage of the interaction between a planar shock and a cylindrical droplet considering cavitation effects: theoretical analysis and numerical simulation

TL;DR

This study combines theoretical analysis and high-resolution numerical simulations to investigate the complex interaction between shock waves and cylindrical droplets, focusing on cavitation effects, wave focusing, and the resulting cavitation zones.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical prediction of wave focusing positions based on a dimensionless wave speed, validated by numerical simulations, and elucidates cavitation dynamics during shock-droplet interactions.

Findings

Wave focusing position predicted by theory matches numerical results.

High shock intensity enlarges cavitation zones inside droplets.

Reflected expansion wave focusing creates internal cavities.

Abstract

The interaction between planar shock waves and droplets, involved the evolution of high transient unsteady wave structures and the induced cavitation process, occurs widely in nature and industry. In this paper, a combination of theoretical analysis and high-resolution numerical simulation is employed to study the inherent characteristics of the interaction. A multi-component two-phase compressible flow model, coupled with the phase transition procedure, is used to capture the spatiotemporal evolution of wave structures and cavitation behaviours, including the inception, growth and collapse of cavitation. The ray analysis method is appended to the interaction, and the evolution of wave structures are characterized by the motion of a series of rays, whose emission angle is correlated to a dimensionless wave speed, the ratio of the transmitted shock velocity and incident shock velocity. Under the influence of cylindrical droplet curvature, those rays focus inside the droplet. The present study theoretically predicts the focusing position for the first time, determined by the dimensionless wave speed, and the theoretical analysis is well consistent with numerical results. Due to the significant difference in the properties between the upper and lower branches of the second reflected wave, a high-transient pressure region is observed and its position is clarified. Numerical results show that if the incident shock wave intensity is high enough, the focusing zone of the reflected expansion wave can be identified as a cavity inside the droplet. Furthermore, the cavitation zone is enlarged, and the stronger collapsing waves are induced by increasing the incident shock wave intensity.