Dynamics of a small bubble in a compressible fluid

An efficient (simplified) method for solving problems of spherically symmetric dynamics of a small gas bubble in a compressible fluid is proposed. The method is based on the joint use of the full problem statement (the gas dynamics equations for the gas and the fluid) and its relevant simplifications. Some approximate statements are discussed. In the proposed method, the rarefaction and compression of the gas during the slow motion of the bubble surface is assumed to be uniform over the bubble volume. At the same time the fluid in the thin zone adjacent to the bubble is considered to be slightly compressible. Otherwise the gas dynamics equations are used for the gas and the fluid. The dynamics of the fluid in the thick external zone are described by the linear acoustics only. The proposed simplified method and two others used in literature are estimated by comparison of their numerical results with those obtained in full statement. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solvent‐ and counterion‐specific swelling behavior of poly(acrylic acid) gels

The collapse of alkali metal poly(acrylate) (PAAM) gels was investigated for various water/organic solvent mixture systems: methanol (MeOH), ethanol (EtOH), 2‐propanol (2PrOH), t‐butanol (tBuOH), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetonitrile (AcN), acetone, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and dioxane. In order to ascertain the counterion specificity in the swelling behavior, four kinds of alkali metal counterions were used: Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cs⁺. Remarkable solvent and counterion specificities were observed for every counterion species and every solvent system, respectively. For example, in aqueous EtOH the dielectric constants (D_cr) at which collapse occurred were in the order PAACs < PAALi < PAAK < PAANa. On the other hand, the D_cr at which PAALi gel collapsed increased in the order tBuOH < dioxane < THF < MeOH < 2PrOH < EtOH < acetone < AcN < DMSO, where the D_cr ranged from about 39 to about 67. This was in contrast to our previous observation for a partially quaternized poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) gel, which collapsed in a much narrower D_cr region in similar mixed solvents. The present solvent‐ and counterion‐specific collapses are discussed on the basis of solvent properties such as the dielectric constant and Gutmann's donor number and acceptor number of a pure solvent. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2791–2800, 2000     

The interaction of background ocean air bubbles with a surface ship

A two-fluid model suitable for the calculation of the two-phase flow field around a naval surface ship is presented. This model couples the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations with equations for the evolution of the gas-phase momentum, volume fraction and bubble number density, thereby allowing the multidimensional calculation of the two-phase flow for monodisperse variable size bubbles. The bubble field modifies the liquid solution through changes in the liquid mass and momentum conservation equations. The model is applied to the case of the scavenging of wind-induced sea-background bubbles by an unpropelled US Navy frigate under non-zero Froude number boundary conditions at the free surface. This is an important test case, because it can be simulated experimentally with a model-scale ship in a towing tank. A significant modification of the background bubble field is predicted in the wake of the ship, where bubble depletion occurs along with a reduction in the bubble size due to dissolution. This effect is due to lateral phase distribution phenomena and the generation of an upwelling plume in the near wake that brings smaller bubbles up to the surface. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Implementation of the Laser Diffraction Technique for Acoustic Cavitation Bubble Investigations

Knowledge of the acoustic cavitation cloud would be useful for improving ultrasound reactor design. Among the characterisation techniques, few are adapted to bubble investigations in an intense ultrasound field. Some problems raised by these measurements result from interactions between the acoustic pressure wave and the measuring light wave. This paper reports the implementation of the laser diffraction technique to determine the size and volume concentration of bubbles generated by a dipping horn operating at 20 kHz. Measurements were performed with a Malvern 2600 instrument. The size distribution, deduced from the diffraction pattern scattered by the bubble cloud crossed by a laser beam, is disturbed by the acoustic pressure wave involving deviation of a light beam at low diffusion angles (acousto‐optic effect). A bubble size correction procedure based on the subtraction of the light energy due to the ultrasound wave is described. The size measurements, and thus the correction procedure, were validated by a second laser technique based on a different measuring principle: phase Doppler interferometry. The measurement reliability was further confirmed by an original application of laser diffraction based on measurements performed just after sonication. These three methods lead to a mean bubble size (Sauter mean diameter) of about 10 μm at a high ultrasound power input. Concerning the void fraction, only measurements achieved after sonication and by laser diffraction predict a correct estimation of this parameter.     

Coil‐Globule Collapse in Flexible Macromolecules

The transition of a solvated flexible macromolecular chain from random coil behavior in the θ‐state to a globular compact form in the collapsed state has been the subject of extensive theoretical and experimental studies. Most of the coil‐globule transition studies of macromolecules have concentrated on the prototypical polystyrene‐cyclohexane system. However, chain contractions reported in this system have been around 75% of those in the unperturbed θ‐state. This relatively small decrease in size does not satisfy the criterion for a densely packed, collapsed globule. Experimentally, the collapse from a coil to a true compact globular state has now been established for two flexible macromolecules: poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) in water and poly(methyl methacrylate) in various solvents. In this contribution, we review recent theoretical studies covering phenomenological and Langevin models as well as computer simulations. In addition, we outline recent experimental studies of the coil‐globule transition of various flexible polymers, copolymers, and polyelectrolytes.

Expansion factor, αequation/tex2gif-stack-1.gif, versus temperature for NaPSS in 4.17 M aqueous NaCl solution. (•): NaPSS‐1, (○): NaPSS‐2.     

New developments and directions in the area of elastomers and rubberlike elasticity

There are number of important developments in the area of elastomeric polymers, including (i) network chains of controlled stiffness, (ii) model elastomers (including dangling-chain networks), (iii) fluorosiloxane elastomers, (iv) new thermoplastic elastomers, (v) other new elastomers, (v) bimodal network chain-length distributions, (vi) cross linking in solution or in a state of deformation, and (vii) gel collapse. Interesting elastomeric composites include those with (i) in-situ generated ceramic-like particles, (ii) ellipsoidal fillers, (iii) clay-like layered fillers, (iv) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) particles, (v) porous fillers, (vi) elastomeric domains modifying ceramics, and (vii) controlled interfaces. New characterization techniques are being developed for elastomers, and there have been new developments in elasticity theory and in elastomer processing. Some examples of societal aspects of relevance are (i) synthesis of elastomers in environmentally-friendly solvents, (ii) biosynthesis, (iii), recyclability, (iv) improved adhesion to tire cords, and (v) better barrier properties in anti-terrorism clothing. Educational topics include curriculum development, and mobile laboratories for elastomer experiments and demonstrations.     

Simulation of three‐dimensional bubbles using desingularized boundary integral method

A very simple model based on the three‐dimensional desingularized boundary integral method is applied to study the evolution of bubble(s) with or without the presence of solid structures. The choice of the desingularization parameters, which is crucial to the success of the method, is studied in the context of bubble dynamics. With the proper choice of parameters, the new model is far more efficient than previous models with virtually the same level of accuracy being achieved. This is largely attributed to the simplicity of the desingularization method. Furthermore, the new model offers a simple and attractive way for mesh refinement. Although it has limitations in the sense that, with this model the time stepping tends to slow down as two surfaces approach each other, this can be easily rectified by switching over to a direct method so that the two surfaces can be drawn closer as required in the context of jet impact. After this the new model can be reinstated to treat the complicated doubly connected geometry involving toroidal bubbles that would otherwise be very difficult to deal with. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Motion of Enzyme‐Powered Microshell Motors

Microshells are attractive in constructing bubble‐propelled micromotors due to the lower energy consumption for bubbles forming on a concave surface. In this work, enzyme‐powered microshell motors were fabricated on multimetallic (Au/Ag/Au) microshells along with the modification of catalase on its concave surface. The catalase triggered the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen gas, hence propelling the autonomous motion of microshell motors. A size‐dependent motion behaviour was observed for the microshell motors in the form of slow tremble and fast translation motion for a size smaller and larger than 5 μm, respectively, according to the size, generation efficiency and ejection mechanism of bubbles and the intensity of Brownian motion. In addition, the effect of fuel concentration on the motion speed of microshells was dependent on whether the bubble generation was affected by the limited mass transfer in the microshell space. These findings play an important role for the design of microshell motors.     

A Bubble‐Dragged Catalytic Polymer Microrocket

We report the bubble dragged microrocket consisting of functionalized multilayer polymer covered asymmetrically by platinum nanoparticles. The microrocket is pushed back during bubble growth over a small step and dragged forward over a big step during bubble explosion. Each bubble explosion induced a shock wave of gas which propagates in water at ultrafast speed. The bubble dragged microrocket can move along an approximate straight line instead of a fluctuating circle which is the trajectory of a bubble‐pushed microrocket in most cases, which makes it a promising candidate for drug delivery and simulating rod‐shaped bacteria.     

Exact Solutions to the Quantum Rabi-Stark Model Within Tunable Coherent States

The quantum Rabi-Stark model, where the linear dipole coupling and the nonlinear Stark-like coupling is present on an equal footing, is studied within the tunable extended coherent states. The eigenvalues and eigenstates are therefore obtained exactly. Surprisingly, the entanglement entropy in the ground-state is found to jump suddenly with the coupling strength. The first-order quantum phase transition can be detected by level crossing of the ground state and the first excited state, which is however lacking in the original linear quantum Rabi model. Performing the first-order approximation in the present theory, we can derive closed-form analytical results for the ground-state. Interestingly, it agrees well with the exact solutions up to the ultra-strong coupling regime in a wide range of model parameters. The spectral collapses when the absolute value of the nonlinear coupling strength approaches to twice the cavity frequency is observed with the help of new solutions in the limits.