arXiv subjects

A-Man Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to A-Man Zhang.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Free Sphere Reverses the Rebound Direction of a Near-Wall Cavitation Bubble

A near-wall cavitation bubble is generally expected to acquire a wallward Kelvin-impulse bias and to rebound or jet toward the wall. Here we show that this canonical direction can be reversed by a wall-supported free sphere. High-speed imaging reveals a transition from away-from-wall to wallward rebound as the initial bubble--sphere separation is increased. By reconstructing the Kelvin impulse on a closed bubble boundary that includes both the visible free interface and the bubble-side contact closure, we find that the reversal is not governed primarily by the instantaneous velocity of the sphere. Instead, sphere displacement creates a contact closure on which the bubble-source contribution supplies an away-from-wall impulse. This contact-source impulse competes with a wallward background formed by the wall-image source and the quadrupolar component of the sphere-induced field. The resulting balance yields a calibrated geometric criterion, $\mathcal{M}_K$, and, in the comparable-size bubble--sphere regime, reduces to a contact number $a_z z_b/R_K^2$. These results identify a contact-geometric mechanism by which a movable particle can redirect the first-cycle jet and rebound bias of a near-wall cavitation bubble.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2026

A bound-preserving oscillation-eliminating discontinuous Galerkin method with operator splitting for solving Kapila's five-equation model

This paper proposes a robust operator-splitting discontinuous Galerkin (DG) framework to overcome the severe stiffness-induced instabilities in simulating compressible two-phase flows governed by Kapila's five-equation model with the Tammann equation of state. Specifically, the system is decoupled into a five-equation transport model and a stiff $\kappa$-source term. The former is discretized via a quasi-conservative DG method \cite{cheng2020quasi}, while the latter is resolved by the local DG method combined with a novel adaptive implicit strategy that hybridizes the backward Euler and second-order singly diagonally implicit Runge-Kutta schemes. This implicit strategy possesses the unconditionally bound-preserving property, and thus effectively circumvents the severe stability constraints and time-step penalties inherent in traditional explicit schemes. Furthermore, to enhance computational robustness, we integrate an oscillation-eliminating DG (OEDG) procedure to suppresses spurious oscillations without characteristic decomposition, complemented by a bound-preserving limiter to maintain physically admissible numerical solutions. We also prove that the proposed operator-splitting DG framework, integrated with the oscillation-eliminating limiter, and the bound-preserving limiter, strictly satisfies the Abgrall condition. Finally, extensive numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate the superior robustness and efficiency of the method.

math.NA↗

arXiv2026

Cavitation-bubble Interaction with an Initially Perturbed Free Surface

The interaction of a spark-generated cavitation bubble with an initially perturbed free surface is investigated experimentally, numerically, and analytically. By exploiting contact-line pinning, we accurately prescribe an initial meniscus with a thin, hydrophilic-coated rod inserted into the liquid. A pronounced surface cavity, driven by the oscillating bubble, forms and penetrates downward to a scale comparable to the bubble itself. The coupled cavity-bubble system exhibits two distinct regimes -- coalescence and non-coalescence -- separated by a critical condition governed by the non-dimensional stand-off parameter $\gamma$ and the initial meniscus height $h_m$. In the non-coalescence regime, the cavity evolves through inception, expansion, and rebound/jetting. The maximum cavity length $h_c$ follows a power-law scaling $h_c\propto\gamma^{\alpha}$ with $\alpha=-2.7$ (experiments) and $\alpha=-2.6$ (simulations) for $1.5\lesssim\gamma\lesssim3$, where inertia dominates. Deviations emerge for $\gamma\lesssim1.5$ (strong nonlinearity) and $\gamma\gtrsim3$ (surface tension and viscosity become noticeable). An analytical model based on the Rayleigh-Plesset equation combined with nonlinear Rayleigh-Taylor instability theory captures the trend and confirms that $h_m$ plays only a secondary role relative to $\gamma$. In the coalescence regime, atmospheric air vents into the bubble through the merged cavity, weakening the collapse intensity and reducing the associated pressure peak. We also examine air/liquid compressibility and boundary layer effects, whose significance grows as $\gamma$ decreases. These findings are relevant to surface-jetting technologies, cavitation-erosion mitigation, and underwater-noise suppression.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2026

Acoustic Signatures of Pinch-Off Cavities During Water-Entry

This study experimentally, numerically, and theoretically investigates the cavity/bubble dynamics and radiated acoustics during the water entry of a centimeter-scale cylindrical projectile with a conical nose. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory tank, employing synchronized high-speed imaging and hydrophone measurements to characterize the cavity closure modes and their resultant acoustic signatures across a range of Froude numbers. The acoustic signal features a weak radiated signal upon impact, followed by significant pressure oscillations spanning more than 20 cycles in the flow field after cavity elongation and pinch-off. A numerical model based on the Finite Volume Method (FVM) successfully captures these physical processes. Subsequently, a semi-theoretical model that incorporates the projectile's boundary effect is developed from potential flow theory. The model not only yields a dominant cavity oscillation frequency that agrees well with experimental data, but also reveals that the boundary effect leads to a cavity oscillation frequency markedly higher than the Minnaert frequency of an equivalent-volume ellipsoidal bubble containing an internal rigid core. The dominant cavity frequency falls nearly linearly with Fr, governed by nose geometry and projectile inertia. This study clarifies the underlying physics connecting cavity dynamics during water entry to underwater acoustic radiation.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2026

Supersonic jet dynamics from two-cavitation-bubble interactions: acceleration, tip fragmentation and penetration

This study experimentally and numerically investigates the dynamics of a high-speed liquid jet generated from the interaction of two tandem cavitation bubbles, termed bubble 1 and bubble 2, depending on their generation sequence. In our experiments, two near-identical, highly-energized cavitation bubbles were generated using an underwater electric discharge method, and their transient interactions were captured using a high-speed camera. We identify three distinct jet regimes that emerge from the tip of bubble 2: conical, umbrella-shaped, and spraying jets, characterized by variations in the initial bubble-bubble distance and the initiation time difference. Our numerical simulations using both Volume of Fluid and Boundary Integral methods reproduce the experimental observations quite well and explain the mechanism of jet acceleration. We show that the transition between the regimes is governed by the spatiotemporal characteristics of the pressure wave induced by the collapse of bubble 1, which impacts the high-curvature tip of bubble 2. Specifically, a conical jet forms when the pressure wave impacts the bubble tip prior to its contraction, while an umbrella-shaped jet develops when this impact occurs after the contraction. The spraying jets result from the breakup of the bubble tip, exhibiting mist-like and needle-like morphologies with velocities ranging from 10 to over 1200 m/s. Remarkably, we observe that the penetration distance of spraying jets exceeds ten times the maximum bubble radius, making them ideal for long-range, controlled fluid delivery. Finally, phase diagrams for jet velocity and penetration distance in the $\gamma-\theta$ parameter space are established to provide a practical reference for biomedical applications, such as needle-free injection and micro-pumping.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2025

New insights into the cavitation erosion by bubble collapse at moderate stand-off distances

Non-spherical bubble collapses near solid boundaries, generating water hammer pressures and shock waves, were recognized as key mechanisms for cavitation erosion. However, there is no agreement on local erosion patterns, and cavitation erosion damage lacks quantitative analysis. In our experiments, five distinct local erosion patterns were identified on aluminum sample surfaces, resulting from the collapse of laser-induced cavitation bubbles at moderate stand-off distances of $0.4\le\gamma\le2.2$, namely Bipolar, Monopolar, Annular, Solar-Halo, and Central. Among them, the Bipolar and Monopolar patterns exhibit the most severe cavitation erosion when the toroidal bubbles undergo asymmetrical collapse along the circumferential direction during the second cycle. Shadowgraphy visualization revealed that asymmetrical collapse caused shockwave focusing through head-on collision and oblique superposition of wavefronts. This led to the variations in toroidal bubble radii and the positions of maximum erosion depth not matching at certain stand-off distances. Both initial plasma asymmetry and bubble-wall stand-off distance were critical in determining circumferential asymmetrical collapse behaviors. At large initial aspect ratios, the elliptical jet tips form during the contraction process, resulting in the toroidal bubble collapsing from regions with smaller curvature radii, ultimately converging to the colliding point along the circumferential direction. Our three-dimensional simulations using OpenFOAM successfully reproduce the key features of circumferentially asymmetrical bubble collapse. This study provides new insights into the non-spherical near-wall bubble collapse dynamics and provides a foundation for developing predictive models for cavitation erosion.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2025

Influence of ambient temperature on cavitation bubble dynamics

We investigate the influence of ambient temperature on the dynamics of spark-generated cavitation bubbles over a broad temperature range of 23 to 90$^\circ \text{C}$. Increasing temperature, the attenuation of collapse intensity of a bubble in a free field is quantitatively characterised through the Rayleigh factor, minimum bubble volume, and maximum collapse velocity. In scenarios where the bubble is initiated near a rigid boundary, this temperature-dependent weakening effect manifests further as a reduction in jet velocity and bubble migration. Additionally, our findings demonstrate that when ambient temperature exceeds 70$^\circ \text{C}$, secondary cavitation forms near the bubble surface around the moment of maximum bubble expansion, followed by coalescence-induced surface wrinkles. These perturbations trigger Rayleigh-Taylor instability and enhance bubble fission. We determine the internal gas pressure of the bubble at its maximum expansion via the Rayleigh-Plesset equation with the input of bubble radius from experimental measurements. It reveals that the secondary cavitation is derived from the gas pressure descending below the saturated vapor pressure, which provides nucleation-favorable conditions. This study sheds light on the physics behind erosion mitigation in high-temperature fluids from the perspective of cavitation bubble dynamics.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2025

Extension of the consistent $\delta^{+}$-SPH model for multiphase flows considering the compressibility of different phases

In hydrodynamic problems involving wave impact on structures, air compressibility is crucial for accurate pressure prediction when an air bubble is entrapped. In this work, the consistent $\delta^{+}$-SPH model, originally developed for single-phase scenarios, is extended to multiphase contexts. Although the consistent $\delta^{+}$-SPH model shows good performance for single phase and viscous flow simulations, extending it to multiphase scenarios presents challenges, such as proper implementation of particle shifting for multiphase interfaces. Therefore, within the framework of the consistent $\delta^{+}$-SPH, we introduce the following enhancements: firstly, new strategy for handling $\delta \boldmath{u}$-terms given by the particle shifting technique at multiphase interfaces are proposed to maintain stability and conservation. Secondly, for modeling of incompressible phases, like water, an acoustic damper term is introduced to alleviate acoustic waves resulting from the weakly-compressible assumption, which is expected to achieve smooth pressure field comparable to truly-incompressible hypothesis, thereby reducing the nonphysical pressure wave during the violent impact state; for modeling compressible phases like air, a physical sound speed is adopted in the equation of state to accurately model real gas phase compressibility. To test and validate the present multiphase SPH model, simulations were conducted for six scenarios. In particular, except for sloshing with two-layer liquids, the other scenarios fully consider air pressure oscillations when air is entrapped, compressed, or expanded by surrounding flows. The results demonstrate significant advantages of the present SPH model in simulating multiphase problems involving strong liquid impact and different phase compressibility.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2025

Moving mesh FSI approach for VIV simulation based on DG method with AMR technique

Vortex-induced vibration (VIV) remains a fundamental yet computationally challenging problem in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This study develops a moving mesh Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) algorithm within a Runge-Kutta Discontinuous Galerkin (RKDG) adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) framework. The viscous term in the compressible Navier-Stokes (NS) equations is discretized using the high-order Interior Penalty Discontinuous Galerkin (IPDG) method. In addition to the above, key numerical advancements encompass the rigorous derivation of the Lax-Friedrichs (L-F) numerical flux formulation tailored for moving meshes, an enhanced AMR-driven nodal correction methodology designed for curved surface geometries, and the implementation of a ghost-node boundary condition treatment scheme to address dynamic mesh motion. Numerical validation proceeds through three phases: First, Couette flow simulations confirm the IPDG method's spatial convergence order. Subsequent analysis of unsteady flow past a cylinder demonstrate the AMR framework's efficacy in resolving vortex-dominated flow. Finally, six VIV benchmark cases are simulated using third-order IPDG discretization, establishing the proposed FSI algorithm's accuracy. Furthermore, synthetic jets (SJs) flow control is investigated through four frequency-variant SJs configurations. The results reveal that SJs can achieve completely VIV suppression at a low actuation frequency, while higher actuation frequencies reduce suppression efficiency due to the energy of the SJs is more in the form of acoustic wave.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2025

An unstructured block-based adaptive mesh refinement approach for explicit discontinuous Galerkin method

In the present paper, we present an adaptive mesh refinement(AMR) approach designed for the discontinuous Galerkin method for conservation laws. The block-based AMR is adopted to ensure the local data structure simplicity and the efficiency, while the unstructured topology of the initial blocks is supported by the forest concept such that the complex geometry of the computational domain can be easily treated. The inter-block communication through guardcells is introduced to avoid the direct treatment of flux computing between cells at different refinement levels. The sharp corners and creases generated during direct refinement can be avoided by projecting the boundary nodes to either the user-defined boundary surface function or the auto-generated NURBs. High-level MPI parallelization is implemented with dynamic load balancing through a space curve filling procedure. Some test cases are presented. As a result, ideal accuracy order and versatility in tracing and controlling the dynamic refinement are observed. Also, good parallelization efficiency is demonstrated.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2024

High-order Discontinuous Galerkin solver based on Jacobi polynomial expansion for compressible flows on unstructured meshes

Based on the Jacobi polynomial expansion, an arbitrary high-order Discontinuous Galerkin solver for compressible flows on unstructured meshes is proposed in the present work. First, we construct orthogonal polynomials for 2D and 3D isoparametric elements using the 1D Jacobi polynomials. We perform modal expansions of the state variables using the orthogonal polynomials, enabling arbitrary high-order spatial discretization of these variables. Subsequently, the discrete governing equations are derived by considering the orthogonality of the Euler equations' residuals and the test functions. On this basis, we develop a high-order Discontinuous Galerkin solver that supports various element types, including triangles, quadrilaterals, tetrahedra, hexahedra, etc. An improved shock-capturing scheme has been adopted to capture shock discontinuities within the flow field. The variable's gradients at the discontinuous elements are reconstructed by its adjacent elements, and the slope limiter is applied to modify the state variables, smoothing the state variables and enhancing the robustness of the solver. The convergence rates of solvers of different orders have been verified by a benchmark case, and the CPU costs are given to prove that high-precision algorithms have higher computational efficiency under the same error level. Finally, several two- and three-dimensional compressible fluid dynamics problems are studied, compared with literature and experimental results, the effectiveness and accuracy of the solver were verified.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2024

A theoretical model for compressible bubble dynamics considering phase transition and migration

A novel theoretical model for bubble dynamics is established that simultaneously accounts for the liquid compressibility, phase transition, oscillation, migration, ambient flow field, etc. The bubble dynamics equations are presented in a unified and concise mathematical form with clear physical meanings and extensibility. The bubble oscillation equation can be simplified to the Keller-Miksis equation by neglecting the effects of phase transition and bubble migration. The present theoretical model effectively captures the experimental results for bubbles generated in free fields, near free surfaces, adjacent to rigid walls, and in the vicinity of other bubbles. Based on the present theory, we explore the effect of the bubble content by changing the vapor proportion inside the cavitation bubble for an initial high-pressure bubble. It is found that the energy loss of the bubble shows a consistent increase with increasing Mach number and initial vapor proportion. However, the radiated pressure peak by the bubble at the collapse stage increases with the decreasing Mach number and increasing vapor proportion. The energy analyses of the bubble reveal that the presence of vapor inside the bubble not only directly contributes to the energy loss of the bubble through phase transition but also intensifies the bubble collapse, which leads to greater radiation of energy into the surrounding flow field due to the fluid compressibility.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2024

Cavitation bubble dynamics inside a droplet suspended in a different host fluid

In this paper, we present a theoretical, experimental, and numerical study of the dynamics of cavitation bubbles inside a droplet suspended in another host fluid. On the theoretical side, we provided a modified Rayleigh collapse time and natural frequency for spherical bubbles in our particular context, characterized by the density ratio between the two liquids and the bubble-to-droplet size ratio. Regarding the experimental aspect, experiments were carried out for laser-induced cavitation bubbles inside oil-in-water (O/W) or water-in-oil (W/O) droplets. Two distinct fluid-mixing mechanisms were unveiled in the two systems, respectively. In the case of O/W droplets, a liquid jet emerges around the end of the bubble collapse phase, effectively penetrating the droplet interface. We offer a detailed analysis of the criteria governing jet penetration, involving the standoff parameter and impact velocity of the bubble jet on the droplet surface. Conversely, in the scenario involving W/O droplets, the bubble traverses the droplet interior, inducing global motion and eventually leading to droplet pinch-off when the local Weber number exceeds a critical value. This phenomenon is elucidated through the equilibrium between interfacial and kinetic energies. Lastly, our boundary integral model faithfully reproduces the essential physics of nonspherical bubble dynamics observed in the experiments. We conduct a parametric study spanning a wide parameter space to investigate bubble-droplet interactions. The insights from this study could serve as a valuable reference for practical applications in the field of ultrasonic emulsification, pharmacy, etc.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2023

Transient interactions between bubbles and a high-speed cylinder in underwater launches: An experimental and numerical study

The underwater launch of high-speed vehicles involves complex bubble-structure interactions, which are not currently well understood. In this study, two small-scale experiments are carried out involving transient bubble-cylinder interactions. We adopt the underwater electric discharge method to generate a high-pressure bubble that drives a cylinder to a maximum velocity of about 25 m/s within 1 ms. A tail bubble forms as the cylinder is ejected from the launch tube. Moreover, we observe a shoulder cavity around the head of the cylinder due to the pressure reduction in the flow. To better understand the complex interaction between bubbles and the high-speed cylinder, we use the boundary element method to establish a bubble-structure interaction model. Our numerical model reproduces the experimental observations quite well, including the cylinder motion and the transient evolution of the bubbles. Thereafter, a systematic study is carried out to reveal the dependence of the bubble-cylinder interactions on the initial pressure of the tail bubble P0. We obtain a scaling law for the maximum velocity of the cylinder with respect to P0. The findings from this study may provide a reference for subsequent research into underwater launches.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2023

Interactions between a central bubble and a surrounding bubble cluster

The interaction of multiple bubbles is a complex physical problem. A simplified case of multiple bubbles is studied theoretically with a bubble located at the center of a circular bubble cluster. All bubbles in the cluster are equally spaced and own the same initial conditions as the central bubble. The unified theory for bubble dynamics (Zhang et al. arXiv:2301.13698) is applied to model the interaction between the central bubble and the circular bubble cluster. To account for the effect of the propagation time of pressure waves, the emission source of the wave is obtained by interpolating the physical information on the time axis. An underwater explosion experiment with two bubbles of different scales is used to validate the theoretical model. The effect of the bubble cluster with a variation in scale on the pulsation characteristics of the central bubble is studied.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2023

A unified theory for bubble dynamics

In this work, we established a novel theory for the dynamics of oscillating bubbles such as cavitation bubbles, underwater explosion bubbles, and air bubbles. For the first time, we proposed bubble dynamics equations that can simultaneously take into consideration the effects of boundaries, bubble interaction, ambient flow field, gravity, bubble migration, fluid compressibility, viscosity, and surface tension while maintaining a unified and elegant mathematical form. The present theory unifies different classical bubble equations such as the Rayleigh-Plesset equation, the Gilmore equation, and the Keller-Miksis equation. Furthermore, we validated the theory with experimental data of bubbles with a variety in scales, sources, boundaries, and ambient conditions and showed the advantages of our theory over the classical theoretical models, followed by a discussion on the applicability of the present theory based on a comparison to simulation results with different numerical methods. Finally, as a demonstration of the potential of our theory, we modeled the complex multi-cycle bubble interaction with wide ranges of energy and phase differences and gained new physical insights into inter-bubble energy transfer and coupling of bubble-induced pressure waves.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2022

On Nonlocal Cohesive Continuum Mechanics and Cohesive Peridynamic Modeling (CPDM) of Inelastic Fracture

In this work, we developed a bond-based cohesive peridynamics model (CPDM) and apply it to simulate inelastic fracture by using the meso-scale Xu-Needleman cohesive potential . By doing so, we have successfully developed a bond-based cohesive continuum mechanics model with intrinsic stress/strain measures as well as consistent and built-in macro-scale constitutive relations. The main novelties of this work are: (1) We have shown that the cohesive stress of the proposed nonlocal cohesive continuum mechanics model is exactly the same as the nonlocal peridynamic stress; (2) For the first time, we have applied an irreversible built-in cohesive stress-strain relation in a bond-based cohesive peridynamics to model inelastic material behaviors without prescribing phenomenological plasticity stress-strain relations; (3) The cohesive bond force possesses both axial and tangential components, and they contribute a nonlinear constitutive relation with variable Poisson's ratios; (4) The bond-based cohesive constitutive model is consistent with the cohesive fracture criterion, and (5) We have shown that the proposed method is able to model inelastic fracture and simulate ductile fracture of small scale yielding in the nonlocal cohesive continua. Several numerical examples have been presented to be compared with the finite element based continuum cohesive zone model, which shows that the proposed approach is a simple, efficient and effective method to model inelastic fracture in the nonlocal cohesive media.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Modelling large scale airgun-bubble dynamics with highly non-spherical features

A thorough understanding of the dynamics of meter-sized airgun-bubbles is very crucial to seabed geophysical exploration. In this study, we use the boundary integral method to investigate the highly non-spherical airgun-bubble dynamics and its corresponding pressure wave emission. Moreover, a model is proposed to also consider the process of air release from the airgun port, which is found to be the most crucial factor to estimate the initial peak of the pressure wave. The numerical simulations show good agreement with experiments, in terms of non-spherical bubble shapes and pressure waves. Thereafter, the effects of the port opening time $T\rm_{open}$, airgun firing depth, heat transfer, and gravity are numerically investigated. We find that a smaller $T\rm_{open}$ leads to a more violent air release that consequently causes stronger high-frequency pressure wave emissions; however, the low-frequency pressure waves are little affected. Additionally, the non-spherical bubble dynamics is highly dependent on the Froude number $Fr$. Starting from $Fr=2$, as $Fr$ increases, the jet contains lower kinetic energy, resulting in a stronger energy focusing of the bubble collapse itself and thus a larger pressure peak during the bubble collapse phase. For $Fr \ge 7$, the spherical bubble theory becomes an appropriate description of the airgun-bubble. The new findings of this study may provide a reference for practical operations and designing environmentally friendly airguns in the near future.

physics.flu-dyn↗