Author(s)

P.R. Williams, R.L. Williams & A. Al-Hussany

Abstract

Cavitation phenomena in thin films of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids due to rapid bubble expansion P.R. Williams, R.L. Williams and A. Al-Hussany Centre for Complex Fluids Processing, School of Engineering, University of Wales Swansea, UK Abstract We report theoretical work in which the growth of a cavitation bubble within a thin, stretching film of liquid is considered. Numerical simulations of cavitation bubble dynamics are used to explain how the growth of a cavity within a stretching liquid film may result in the development of sufficiently large negative pressures (or tension) within the liquid to damage adjacent surfaces. The results of this study are discussed in terms of the possible consequences of a rapid expansion of a vaporous cavitation bubble in samples of healthy (non- Newtonian) and pathological (essentially Newtonian) synovial fluid. Contrary to previous indications in the literature, non-Newtonian (specifically, shearthinning) behaviour is found to result in significantly

Keywords