GROWTH OF TRAVELING BUBBLES NEAR AN AXISYMMETRICAL BODY IN A POTENTIAL FLOW

In this paper, we discuss the dynamics of a cluster of bubbles in a po tential flow. The governing equations for a bubble cluster are derived by using a series expansion of spherical harmonics. The three-dimensi onal translational motion and deformation of each bubble, which are in duced by bubble-bubble interactions and the pressure gradient due to a set of simple sources, are taken into consideration. The accuracy of the present theory is confirmed by comparison of the results with thos e obtained using the boundary element method. The theory is applied to the dynamics of bubbles traveling around two kinds of axisymmetric bo dy. It is shown that the bubble deformation is greatly affected by the pressure gradient around a body. It is also shown that the degree of bubble growth is reduced by bubble-bubble/bubble-wall interactions. Th e growth rate of interacting bubbles depends on both the initial radiu s and the initial location of the bubbles. When a particular bubble gr ows much faster than the other bubbles, the growth rate of the other b ubbles is much lower than that predicted using single-bubble theory.