Bubble Explosion and Detonation Wave Propagation in Bubbly Liquids.

Abstract

Shock tube experiments on single bubbles in glycerin containing a reactive gas mixture and inert gas hit by a plane shock wave indicate that there exists a critical value of shock strength above which a reaction starts inside the bubble.In two phase mixtures consisting of reactive bubble clouds in glycerine explosions cause formation of a detonation wave with a soliton like structure. This wave propagates as a precursor with a constant velocity which is much higher than that of the primary shock wave. A theoretical model including bubble dynamics, bubble interaction, and the combustion process is developed. Numerical results show good agreement with the experimentally obtained profile.