Acoustic cavitation mechanism: A nonlinear model

During acoustic cavitation process, bubbles appear when acoustic pressure reaches a threshold value in the liquid. The ultrasonic field is then submitted to the action of the bubbles. In this paper we develop a model to analyze the cavitation phenomenon in one-dimensional standing waves, based on the nonlinear code SNOW-BL. Bubbles are produced where the minimum rarefaction pressure peak exceeds the cavitation threshold. We show that cavitation bubbles appear at high amplitude and drastically affect (dissipation, dispersion, and nonlinearity) the ultrasonic field. This paper constitutes the first work that associates the nonlinear ultrasonic field to a bubble generation process.

► We model the generation of gas bubbles in a liquid by means of a numerical tool.
► We show the creation of the bubbles (cavitation process).
► We study the effect of the bubbles on the ultrasonic field.
► We take into account the nonlinearity of the bubbly liquid.