A coupled smoothed particle hydrodynamics-finite volume method for three-dimensional modeling of bubble dynamics

Abstract

Bubble pulsation is a characteristic multiphase compressible flow, which involves periodic oscillation and strong pressure wave and is vulnerable to boundary conditions. The smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) has limitations in imposing the fluid boundary suitable for such problems, which have been verified first with the state-of-the-art SPH boundaries. It brings challenges to the three-dimensional modeling. Then, we propose to combine SPH with the finite volume method via the spatial coupling to deal with this problem. The accuracy of the coupled method has been validated by comparisons with other numerical methods and the theoretical equation from the spherical pulsation to the more complex bubble oscillations. Good agreements are obtained in terms of the bubble radius and the pulse pressure peak. The conclusions drawn in this work and the computational framework lay the foundation for the further complicated study on the bubble dynamics, the complete process of underwater explosion, and the related fluid–structure interaction problems.