Updated Lagrangian particle hydrodynamics (ULPH) simulations of underwater bubble motions in three-dimensional space

Abstract

Rising bubbles are often encountered in many engineering fields and have diverse applications. A thorough understanding of bubble rising phenomenon is crucial in these engineering applications. In this study, we employ the developed updated Lagrangian particle hydrodynamics (ULPH) multiphase flow model to investigate the dynamic behavior of bubble flow in quiescent liquids, including bubble rise, deformation, fragmentation, and coalescence. First, a comprehensive numerical study of the influences of computational domain dimensions and fluid/bubble density ratios at the multiphase interface on bubble dynamics is conducted. Subsequently, a variety of scenarios featuring single bubble rising in viscous fluid media are examined. The ULPH simulation results are validated against experimental data, the Level-set (LS) method and Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) results. Furthermore, results of three calculations are presented, including dynamic characterization of two horizontal coaxial bubbles, three vertical coaxial bubbles and a single bubble in the presence of an obstacle. The results indicate that the established ULPH multiphase flow model is effective in accurately simulating dynamic characteristics of rising bubbles under various conditions, affirming its applicability in engineering analyses.