Influence of Homogeneous Condensation Inside a Small Gas Bubble on Its Pressure Response

Abstract

The response of a small gas bubble to an ambient pressure reduction is investigated theoretically. Numerical results show that the temperature inside the bubble decreases due to adiabatic expansion at the first stage, then it recovers almost to the surrounding liquid temperature because of latent heat release caused by mist formation inside the bubble. Consequently, the bubble behaves apparently isothermally. The relation between the initial bubble radius and the critical pressure for cavitation inception to stepwise ambient pressure reduction becomes close to the relation under the assumption of isothermal change in the gas mixture inside the bubble.