Bubble number in a caviting flow

Cavitation is a general phenomenon of the fluid flows with obstacles. It ap pears in the cooling conduits of the fast nuclear engines. A model of this phenomenon using the theory of Laplace and a common non-convex energy for t he liquid and vapour bulks is proposed. This model makes it possible to det ermine a higher limit of the density of bubbles (a number of bubbles per un it of volume in the flow). The maximum intensity of cavitation is associate d with the mechanical and thermal characteristics of the fluid flow. (C) 20 00 Academie dcs sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.