Acoustic streaming and bubble translation at a cavitating ultrasonic horn

Acoustic cavitation at a 20 kHz ultrasonic horn is investigated by means of high-speed imaging and particle image velocimetry. In one experimental set-up, bubble dynamics is visualized synchronously with the acoustic streaming liquid flow to reveal their connection. By switching an elevated static pressure, cavitation can be turned off and on for otherwise identical conditions. If cavitation is present, an average increase of liquid streaming velocities by a factor of 30 is found as compared to the non-cavitating case, and high flow velocities are well confined to the bubbly regions. Further results show that individual bubble trajectories do not always coincide with the liquid flow direction, but can even run in opposite direction. This is highlighted in a second set-up where the periodic back-and-forth translation of a single bubble near the horn tip in phosphoric acid is analyzed. It is concluded that translation of larger cavitation bubbles is mainly determined by acoustic forces, even in the presence...