Mentor
Tadd Truscott
Document Type
Report
Publication Date
12-2018
First Page
1
Last Page
8
Abstract
Soap Bubbles on the water surface would seem to be an intuitive means for splash suppression, but their presence appears to be a double edged sword. We present on the water entry of hydrophilic spheres where the liquid surface is augmented by the presence of a bubble layer, similar to a bubble bath. While the presence of a bubble layer can diminish splashing upon impact at low Weber numbers, it also induces cavity formation at speeds below the critical velocity. The formation of a cavity generally results in larger Worthington jets and thus, larger amounts of ejected liquid. Bubble layers induce cavity formation by wetting the sphere prior to liquid impact, causing them to form cavities similar to those created by hydrophobic spheres. Droplets present on a pre-wetted sphere disrupt the flow of the advancing liquid during entry, pushing it away from the impacting body to form an entrained air cavity.
Recommended Citation
Robinson, Wesley, "Impact of Bubble Baths on Stainless Steel Sphere Water Entry" (2018). Physics Capstone Projects. Paper 69.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/phys_capstoneproject/69