Modelling bubble rise and interaction with a glass surface

Abstract

A theoretical model has been developed to analyse bubble rise in water and subsequent impact and bounce against a horizontal glass plate. The multiscale nature of the problem, where the bubble size is on the millimetre range and the film drainage process happens on the micrometre to nanometre scale requires the combined use of different modelling techniques. On the macro scale we solve the full Navier-Stokes equations in cylindrical coordinates to model bubble rise whereas modelling film drainage on the micro scale is based on lubrication theory because the film Reynolds number becomes much smaller than unity. Quantitative predictions of this model are compared with experimental data obtaine..