Eur. Phys. J. E (2013) 36: 119
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2013-13119-7

Regular Article

Numerical simulation of bubble dynamics in an elastic vessel

¹ College of Shipbuilding Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, 150001, Harbin, China
² Department of Mathematics, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China

^* e-mail: wangshiping@hrbeu.edu.cn

Received: 8 June 2013
Revised: 25 August 2013
Accepted: 25 September 2013
Published online: 25 October 2013

Abstract

The nonlinear evolution of a gas bubble in the middle of an elastic vessel is investigated numerically. The fluids inside and outside the vessel are assumed to be incompressible and potential. A boundary element method (BEM) is adopted to solve the Laplace equation for the velocity potential. The gas inside the bubble is described by the Boyle Law. The fluid outside the vessel is assumed to contain the elasticity. The dynamic boundary condition on the vessel interface i is obtained from the derived Bernoulli Equation. This numerical model is validated through the comparisons with both the analytic solution of Rayleigh-Plesset equation and spark bubble experiment. The bubble dynamic behavior with different elastic parameters and vessel inner radius is further discussed.