Study of Tip Vortex Cavitation Inception Using Navier-Stokes Computation and Bubble Dynamics Model

An experimental study on flow around two similarly-sized, adjacent air bubbles confined in a 1000 mm vertical, square channel (100 X 100 mmʹ) with downward flow of water was conducted. The bubbles were D = 11.7 mm in major diameter, ellipioidal in shape (0.4 ml volume) and 12 mm apart. The Reynolds and Eotvos numbers were 1950 < Re;) < 2250, II < Eo < 11.5 such that the bubbles oscillated. Velocityʹ measurements were taken using Digital Particle Image Velocimetry, complemented by Laser Induced Fluorescence. Simultaneously, a second CCD camera recorded the shadow image of the bubble pairʹs motions. Visualization revealed that the hubbies move out of phase and do not collide nor coalesce. The velocity data revealed the dynamic interaction of two wake-flow velocity fields with a jet-like flow in-between. From the DPIV data, estimates of the vorticity, Reynolds-stress and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) distributions confirmed the spatio-temporal nature of the flow. Details will be presented.