Modelling of the growth of a single bubble in semi-hard cheese, with experimental verification and sensitivity analysis

The aim of this study was to investigate the momentum transport occurring during bubble growth in a viscoelastic material. The mechanical behaviour was modelled with a 5-element Maxwell model, implemented with the finite elements method, and a sensitivity analysis of the model parameters was undertaken. Air was injected into the bubble and growth was monitored with pressure sensors and by the analysis of MRI image. The experiment was repeated three times. Each time mechanical parameters were characterised on the same material as that used for the experimental validation of the model. Simulations were conducted in geometric and boundary conditions as close as possible to those of the experiment, and yielded good agreement with the experimental results.