Coupling characteristics of bubbles with a free surface initially disturbed by water waves

Abstract

The interactions between bubbles and water waves have important applications in ocean engineering, and their coupling characteristics are strongly associated with the wave phase angle, wavelength, and wave amplitude. Based on the assumption that the liquid is inviscid and incompressible, the coupling characteristics between bubbles and water waves are solved by the Euler equations with the finite volume method, and the bubble surface and water wave surface are tracked by the front tracking method. The accuracy of the numerical method is verified by comparison with a spark-generated bubble experiment. Compared with the bubble near the initially plane free surface, the rising height of the water spike is reduced by water waves in the crest state, where a concave shape forms on the falling water wave during bubble contraction when the wavelength [Formula: see text] 4.00 and the wave amplitude [Formula: see text] 0.364. The rising height of the water spike is significantly strengthened by water waves in the trough state with smaller wavelengths and larger wave amplitudes, which produce a thinner and higher water spike. The bubble cycle is shortened by water waves in the crest state with smaller wavelengths and prolonged by water waves in the trough state with smaller wavelengths and larger wave amplitudes. The results presented in this paper provide guidance for the study of underwater explosions in complex water wave environments.