Microstreaming generated by two acoustically induced gas bubbles

Abstract

A theory is developed that describes microstreaming generated by two interacting gas bubbles in an acoustic field. The theory is used in numerical simulations to compare the characteristics of acoustic microstreaming at different frequencies, separation distances between the bubbles and bubble sizes. It is shown that the interaction of the bubbles leads to a considerable increase in the intensity of the velocity and stress fields of acoustic microstreaming if the bubbles are driven near the resonance frequencies that they have in the presence of each other. Patterns of streamlines for different situations are presented.