Solution selection of axisymmetric Taylor bubbles

Abstract

A finite difference scheme is proposed to solve the problem of axisymmetric Taylor bubbles rising at a constant velocity in a tube. A method to remove singularities from the numerical scheme is presented, allowing accurate computation of the bubbles with the inclusion of both gravity and surface tension. This paper confirms the long-held belief that the solution space of the axisymmetric Taylor bubble for small surface tension is qualitatively similar to that of the plane Taylor bubble. Furthermore, evidence suggesting that the solution selection mechanism associated with plane bubbles also occurs in the axisymmetric case is presented.