Three-dimension simulation of bubble behavior under nonlinear oscillation

Abstract An air–water two-phase flow numerical simulation model under nonlinear oscillating condition is established based on the open source code OpenFOAM, and the bubble behavior under oscillating condition is simulated. The three-dimensional oscillating two-phase flow field is simulated using the VOF method and the moving grid of the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method. At first, the simulation results are compared with the experimental results and are shown to be in reasonable agreement, and the simulation model is validated. The validated model is then used to analyze the bubble motion. Bubble shapes, induced velocity and displacement versus time are investigated under different oscillating conditions. Rising bubbles under oscillation and non-oscillation conditions are also compared. It is found that a bubble, especially a rising bubble, is influenced significantly by oscillation.