Physical modeling of bubble generation in foamed-aluminum

Process analysis by using physical modeling technique is performed to investigate bubble generation in foamed-aluminum. By using room temperature water with specially designed equipment, the effects of stirrer types, fluid viscosity and stirring velocity on the foam generation behaviors are intensively analyzed. Generated bubbles in the water had various sizes from 1 to 10 mm and the quantity of bubbles per unit cross-section was measured from 0 to 20 bubbles/cm2. The distribution and size of bubbles varied with each process parameters but the most important parameters were stirring velocity and fluid viscosity. The results obtained from physical modeling have been well confirmed by actual aluminum foaming experiment and the physical modeling method proposed in this study has been proved to be very useful in the analysis of aluminum foaming process.