The Acoustic Bubble

This volume deals with the interaction of acoustic fields with bubbles in liquids. The principles of cavitation (generation of bubbles in liquids by rapid changes as those introduced by ultrasound) are expounded. When cavity bubbles implode they produce shock waves in the liquid. Components can be damaged by cavitation if it is induced by turbulent flow. These phenomena have important implications, particularly in underwater acoustics (the fastest growing field in acoustics research). Later chapters concentrate on cavitation due to ultrasound. This interdisciplinary research should be of interest to those engaged in research from sonochemistry to the sensitization of explosives. The physical processes involved are explained both by analogy and formulation. In this way, the concepts should be accessible to those of lesser mathematical ability The Acoustic Bubble describes the interaction of acoustic fields with bubbles in liquid. The book consists of five chapters. Chapter 1 provides a basic introduction to acoustics, including some of the more esoteric phenomena that can be seen when high-frequency high-intensity underwater sound is employed. Chapter 2 discusses the nucleation of cavitation and basic fluid dynamics, while Chapter 3 draws together the acoustics and bubble dynamics to discuss the free oscillation of a bubble and acoustic emissions from such activity. The acoustic probes that are often applied to study the behavior of a bubble when an externally-applied acoustic field drives it into oscillation is deliberated in Chapter 4. The last chapter outlines a variety of effects associated with acoustically-induced bubble activity. The bubble detection, sonoluminescence, sonochemistry, and pulse enhancement are also covered. This publication is a good reference for physics and engineering students and researchers intending to acquire knowledge of the acoustic interactions of acoustic fields with bubbles. The wide range of important applications concerning the acoustic interactions of bubbles necessitates a book of this form which, utilising analogy, description, and formulation, gives a 'physical feel' for the phenomena, whilst also providing thoroughly for mathematically adept readers. The first half of the book introduces and draws together acoustics, cavitation nucleation and associated fluid dynamics, to examine the free oscillations of bubbles and the resulting acoustic emissions. In the second half, the behaviour and consequences of bubbles in externally-applied acoustic fields is discussed in detail, including the cavitational aspects of erosion and bioeffects. Throughout the book topics are drawn from a variety of disciplines, and include bubble and cavitation detection, bioeffects of clinical ultrasound, oceanic bubble populations, sonochemistry, ultrasonic degassing, and weather sensing. There is an extensive bibliography. Content: Front Matter , Page iii Copyright , Page iv Dedication , Page v Preface , Pages xi-xii Symbols and Abbreviations , Pages xiii-xxvi 1 - The Sound Field , Pages 1-66 2 - Cavitation Inception and Fluid Dynamics , Pages 67-128 3 - The Freely-oscillating Bubble , Pages 129-286 4 - The Forced Bubble , Pages 287-438 5 - Effects and Mechanisms , Pages 439-590 INDEX , Pages 591-613 Whether it be the bang of an explosion or the steady sine-wave tone of a whistle, an underwater sonar pulse or the output of a clinical foetal scanner, 'sound' is a waveform consisting of density variations in an elastic medium, propagating away from a source.