{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/19225"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/19225","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Numerical Simulations of Interactions of Solid Particles and Deformable Gas Bubbles in Viscous Liquids","abstract":"Studying the interactions of solid particles and deformable gas<br />bubbles in viscous liquids is very important in many applications,<br />especially in mining and chemical industries. These interactions<br />involve liquid-solid-air multiphase flows and an<br />arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerican (ALE) approach is used for the direct<br />numerical simulations. In the system of rigid particles and<br />deformable gas bubbles suspended in viscous liquids, the<br />Navier-Stokes equations coupled with the equations of motion of the<br />particles and deformable bubbles are solved in a finite-element<br />framework. A moving, unstructured, triangular mesh tracks the<br />deformation of the bubble and free surface with adaptive refinement.<br />In this dissertation, we study four problems. In the first three<br />problems the flow is assumed to be axisymmetric and two dimensional<br />(2D) in the fourth problem.<br /><br />Firstly, we study the interaction between a rising deformable bubble<br />and a solid wall in highly viscous liquids. The mechanism of the<br />bubble deformation as it interacts with the wall is described in<br />terms of two nondimensional groups, namely the Morton number (Mo)<br />and Bond number (Bo). The film drainage process is also<br />considered. It is found that three modes of bubble-rigid wall<br />interaction exist as Bo changes at a moderate Mo.<br />The first mode prevails at small Bo where the bubble deformation<br />is small. For this mode, the bubble is<br /> hard to break up and will bounce back and eventually attach<br />to the rigid wall. In the second mode, the bubble may break up after<br />it collides with the rigid wall, which is determined by the film<br />drainage. In the third mode, which prevails at high Bo, the bubble<br />breaks up due to the bottom surface catches up the top surface<br />during the interaction.<br /><br />Secondly, we simulate the interaction between a rigid particle and a<br />free surface. In order to isolate the effects of viscous drag and<br />particle inertia, the gravitational force is neglected and the<br />particle gains its impact velocity by an external accelerating<br />force. The process of a rigid particle impacting a free surface and<br />then rebounding is simulated. Simplified theoretical models are<br />provided to illustrate the relationship between the particle<br />velocity and the time variation of film thickness between the<br />particle and free surface. Two film thicknesses are defined. The<br />first is the thickness achieved when the particle reaches its<br />highest position. The second is the thickness when the particle<br />falls to its lowest position. The smaller of these two thicknesses<br />is termed the minimum film thickness and its variation with the<br />impact velocity has been determined. We find that the interactions<br />between the free surface and rigid particle can be divided into<br />three regimes according to the trend of the first film thickness.<br />The three regimes are viscous regime, inertial regime and jetting<br />regime. In viscous regime, the first film thickness decreases as the<br />impact velocity increases. Then it rises slightly in the inertial<br />regime because the effect of liquid inertia becomes larger as the<br />impact velocity increases. Finally, the film thickness decreases<br />again due to Plateau-Rayleigh instability in the jetting regime.<br />We also find that the minimum film thickness corresponds to an<br />impact velocity on the demarcation point between the viscous and<br />inertial regimes. This fact is caused by the balance of viscous<br />drag, surface deformation and liquid inertia.<br /><br />Thirdly, we consider the interaction between a rigid particle and a<br />deformable bubble. Two typical cases are simulated: (1) Collision of<br />a rigid particle with a gas bubble in water in the absence of<br />gravity, and (2) Collision of a buoyancy-driven rising bubble with a<br />falling particle in highly viscous liquids. We also compare our<br />simulation results with available experimental data. Good agreement<br />is obtained for the force on the particle and the shape of the<br />bubble.<br /><br />Finally, we investigated the collisions of groups of bubbles and<br />particles in two dimensions. A preliminary example of the oblique<br />collision between a single particle and a single bubble is conducted<br />by giving the particle a constant acceleration. Then, to investigate<br />the possibility of particles attaching to bubbles, the interactions<br />between a group of 22 particles and rising bubbles are studied. Due<br />to the fluid motion, the particles involved in central collisions<br />with bubbles have higher possibilities to attach to the bubble.","abstract_html":"Studying the interactions of solid particles and deformable gas&lt;br /&gt;bubbles in viscous liquids is very important in many applications,&lt;br /&gt;especially in mining and chemical industries. These interactions&lt;br /&gt;involve liquid-solid-air multiphase flows and an&lt;br /&gt;arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerican (ALE) approach is used for the direct&lt;br /&gt;numerical simulations. In the system of rigid particles and&lt;br /&gt;deformable gas bubbles suspended in viscous liquids, the&lt;br /&gt;Navier-Stokes equations coupled with the equations of motion of the&lt;br /&gt;particles and deformable bubbles are solved in a finite-element&lt;br /&gt;framework. A moving, unstructured, triangular mesh tracks the&lt;br /&gt;deformation of the bubble and free surface with adaptive refinement.&lt;br /&gt;In this dissertation, we study four problems. In the first three&lt;br /&gt;problems the flow is assumed to be axisymmetric and two dimensional&lt;br /&gt;(2D) in the fourth problem.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Firstly, we study the interaction between a rising deformable bubble&lt;br /&gt;and a solid wall in highly viscous liquids. The mechanism of the&lt;br /&gt;bubble deformation as it interacts with the wall is described in&lt;br /&gt;terms of two nondimensional groups, namely the Morton number (Mo)&lt;br /&gt;and Bond number (Bo). The film drainage process is also&lt;br /&gt;considered. It is found that three modes of bubble-rigid wall&lt;br /&gt;interaction exist as Bo changes at a moderate Mo.&lt;br /&gt;The first mode prevails at small Bo where the bubble deformation&lt;br /&gt;is small. For this mode, the bubble is&lt;br /&gt; hard to break up and will bounce back and eventually attach&lt;br /&gt;to the rigid wall. In the second mode, the bubble may break up after&lt;br /&gt;it collides with the rigid wall, which is determined by the film&lt;br /&gt;drainage. In the third mode, which prevails at high Bo, the bubble&lt;br /&gt;breaks up due to the bottom surface catches up the top surface&lt;br /&gt;during the interaction.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Secondly, we simulate the interaction between a rigid particle and a&lt;br /&gt;free surface. In order to isolate the effects of viscous drag and&lt;br /&gt;particle inertia, the gravitational force is neglected and the&lt;br /&gt;particle gains its impact velocity by an external accelerating&lt;br /&gt;force. The process of a rigid particle impacting a free surface and&lt;br /&gt;then rebounding is simulated. Simplified theoretical models are&lt;br /&gt;provided to illustrate the relationship between the particle&lt;br /&gt;velocity and the time variation of film thickness between the&lt;br /&gt;particle and free surface. Two film thicknesses are defined. The&lt;br /&gt;first is the thickness achieved when the particle reaches its&lt;br /&gt;highest position. The second is the thickness when the particle&lt;br /&gt;falls to its lowest position. The smaller of these two thicknesses&lt;br /&gt;is termed the minimum film thickness and its variation with the&lt;br /&gt;impact velocity has been determined. We find that the interactions&lt;br /&gt;between the free surface and rigid particle can be divided into&lt;br /&gt;three regimes according to the trend of the first film thickness.&lt;br /&gt;The three regimes are viscous regime, inertial regime and jetting&lt;br /&gt;regime. In viscous regime, the first film thickness decreases as the&lt;br /&gt;impact velocity increases. Then it rises slightly in the inertial&lt;br /&gt;regime because the effect of liquid inertia becomes larger as the&lt;br /&gt;impact velocity increases. Finally, the film thickness decreases&lt;br /&gt;again due to Plateau-Rayleigh instability in the jetting regime.&lt;br /&gt;We also find that the minimum film thickness corresponds to an&lt;br /&gt;impact velocity on the demarcation point between the viscous and&lt;br /&gt;inertial regimes. This fact is caused by the balance of viscous&lt;br /&gt;drag, surface deformation and liquid inertia.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thirdly, we consider the interaction between a rigid particle and a&lt;br /&gt;deformable bubble. Two typical cases are simulated: (1) Collision of&lt;br /&gt;a rigid particle with a gas bubble in water in the absence of&lt;br /&gt;gravity, and (2) Collision of a buoyancy-driven rising bubble with a&lt;br /&gt;falling particle in highly viscous liquids. We also compare our&lt;br /&gt;simulation results with available experimental data. Good agreement&lt;br /&gt;is obtained for the force on the particle and the shape of the&lt;br /&gt;bubble.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Finally, we investigated the collisions of groups of bubbles and&lt;br /&gt;particles in two dimensions. A preliminary example of the oblique&lt;br /&gt;collision between a single particle and a single bubble is conducted&lt;br /&gt;by giving the particle a constant acceleration. Then, to investigate&lt;br /&gt;the possibility of particles attaching to bubbles, the interactions&lt;br /&gt;between a group of 22 particles and rising bubbles are studied. Due&lt;br /&gt;to the fluid motion, the particles involved in central collisions&lt;br /&gt;with bubbles have higher possibilities to attach to the bubble.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Qin, Tong"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Ph. D.","degree_level":"doctoral","degree_discipline":"Engineering Mechanics","degree_department":"Engineering Science and Mechanics","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Ragab, Saad A."],"committee_members":["Yue, Pengtao","Hajj, Muhammad R.","De Vita, Raffaella","Stremler, Mark A."],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-01-11","date_published":"2013-01-11","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:31Z","subjects":["Multiphase flow","Bubble-wall interaction","Particle- free surface interaction","Particle-bubble interaction","Film drainage","Bubble"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:161"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:161","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/19225","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Ragab, Saad A."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Yue, Pengtao","Hajj, Muhammad R.","De Vita, Raffaella","Stremler, Mark A."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Engineering Science and Mechanics"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Qin, Tong"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2013-02-19T22:38:55Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-02-19T22:38:55Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2013-01-11"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Engineering Mechanics"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Ph. D."]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Multiphase flow","Bubble-wall interaction","Particle- free surface interaction","Particle-bubble interaction","Film drainage","Bubble"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:161"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/19225"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Studying the interactions of solid particles and deformable gas<br />bubbles in viscous liquids is very important in many applications,<br />especially in mining and chemical industries. These interactions<br />involve liquid-solid-air multiphase flows and an<br />arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerican (ALE) approach is used for the direct<br />numerical simulations. In the system of rigid particles and<br />deformable gas bubbles suspended in viscous liquids, the<br />Navier-Stokes equations coupled with the equations of motion of the<br />particles and deformable bubbles are solved in a finite-element<br />framework. A moving, unstructured, triangular mesh tracks the<br />deformation of the bubble and free surface with adaptive refinement.<br />In this dissertation, we study four problems. In the first three<br />problems the flow is assumed to be axisymmetric and two dimensional<br />(2D) in the fourth problem.<br /><br />Firstly, we study the interaction between a rising deformable bubble<br />and a solid wall in highly viscous liquids. The mechanism of the<br />bubble deformation as it interacts with the wall is described in<br />terms of two nondimensional groups, namely the Morton number (Mo)<br />and Bond number (Bo). The film drainage process is also<br />considered. It is found that three modes of bubble-rigid wall<br />interaction exist as Bo changes at a moderate Mo.<br />The first mode prevails at small Bo where the bubble deformation<br />is small. For this mode, the bubble is<br /> hard to break up and will bounce back and eventually attach<br />to the rigid wall. In the second mode, the bubble may break up after<br />it collides with the rigid wall, which is determined by the film<br />drainage. In the third mode, which prevails at high Bo, the bubble<br />breaks up due to the bottom surface catches up the top surface<br />during the interaction.<br /><br />Secondly, we simulate the interaction between a rigid particle and a<br />free surface. In order to isolate the effects of viscous drag and<br />particle inertia, the gravitational force is neglected and the<br />particle gains its impact velocity by an external accelerating<br />force. The process of a rigid particle impacting a free surface and<br />then rebounding is simulated. Simplified theoretical models are<br />provided to illustrate the relationship between the particle<br />velocity and the time variation of film thickness between the<br />particle and free surface. Two film thicknesses are defined. The<br />first is the thickness achieved when the particle reaches its<br />highest position. The second is the thickness when the particle<br />falls to its lowest position. The smaller of these two thicknesses<br />is termed the minimum film thickness and its variation with the<br />impact velocity has been determined. We find that the interactions<br />between the free surface and rigid particle can be divided into<br />three regimes according to the trend of the first film thickness.<br />The three regimes are viscous regime, inertial regime and jetting<br />regime. In viscous regime, the first film thickness decreases as the<br />impact velocity increases. Then it rises slightly in the inertial<br />regime because the effect of liquid inertia becomes larger as the<br />impact velocity increases. Finally, the film thickness decreases<br />again due to Plateau-Rayleigh instability in the jetting regime.<br />We also find that the minimum film thickness corresponds to an<br />impact velocity on the demarcation point between the viscous and<br />inertial regimes. This fact is caused by the balance of viscous<br />drag, surface deformation and liquid inertia.<br /><br />Thirdly, we consider the interaction between a rigid particle and a<br />deformable bubble. Two typical cases are simulated: (1) Collision of<br />a rigid particle with a gas bubble in water in the absence of<br />gravity, and (2) Collision of a buoyancy-driven rising bubble with a<br />falling particle in highly viscous liquids. We also compare our<br />simulation results with available experimental data. Good agreement<br />is obtained for the force on the particle and the shape of the<br />bubble.<br /><br />Finally, we investigated the collisions of groups of bubbles and<br />particles in two dimensions. A preliminary example of the oblique<br />collision between a single particle and a single bubble is conducted<br />by giving the particle a constant acceleration. Then, to investigate<br />the possibility of particles attaching to bubbles, the interactions<br />between a group of 22 particles and rising bubbles are studied. Due<br />to the fluid motion, the particles involved in central collisions<br />with bubbles have higher possibilities to attach to the bubble."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Ph. D."]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Numerical Simulations of Interactions of Solid Particles and Deformable Gas Bubbles in Viscous Liquids"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Ragab, Saad A."],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Yue, Pengtao","Hajj, Muhammad R.","De Vita, Raffaella","Stremler, Mark A."],"dc:contributor.department":["Engineering Science and Mechanics"],"dc:creator":["Qin, Tong"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2013-02-19T22:38:55Z"],"dc:date.available":["2013-02-19T22:38:55Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2013-01-11"],"dc:description.abstract":["Studying the interactions of solid particles and deformable gas<br />bubbles in viscous liquids is very important in many applications,<br />especially in mining and chemical industries. These interactions<br />involve liquid-solid-air multiphase flows and an<br />arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerican (ALE) approach is used for the direct<br />numerical simulations. In the system of rigid particles and<br />deformable gas bubbles suspended in viscous liquids, the<br />Navier-Stokes equations coupled with the equations of motion of the<br />particles and deformable bubbles are solved in a finite-element<br />framework. A moving, unstructured, triangular mesh tracks the<br />deformation of the bubble and free surface with adaptive refinement.<br />In this dissertation, we study four problems. In the first three<br />problems the flow is assumed to be axisymmetric and two dimensional<br />(2D) in the fourth problem.<br /><br />Firstly, we study the interaction between a rising deformable bubble<br />and a solid wall in highly viscous liquids. The mechanism of the<br />bubble deformation as it interacts with the wall is described in<br />terms of two nondimensional groups, namely the Morton number (Mo)<br />and Bond number (Bo). The film drainage process is also<br />considered. It is found that three modes of bubble-rigid wall<br />interaction exist as Bo changes at a moderate Mo.<br />The first mode prevails at small Bo where the bubble deformation<br />is small. For this mode, the bubble is<br /> hard to break up and will bounce back and eventually attach<br />to the rigid wall. In the second mode, the bubble may break up after<br />it collides with the rigid wall, which is determined by the film<br />drainage. In the third mode, which prevails at high Bo, the bubble<br />breaks up due to the bottom surface catches up the top surface<br />during the interaction.<br /><br />Secondly, we simulate the interaction between a rigid particle and a<br />free surface. In order to isolate the effects of viscous drag and<br />particle inertia, the gravitational force is neglected and the<br />particle gains its impact velocity by an external accelerating<br />force. The process of a rigid particle impacting a free surface and<br />then rebounding is simulated. Simplified theoretical models are<br />provided to illustrate the relationship between the particle<br />velocity and the time variation of film thickness between the<br />particle and free surface. Two film thicknesses are defined. The<br />first is the thickness achieved when the particle reaches its<br />highest position. The second is the thickness when the particle<br />falls to its lowest position. The smaller of these two thicknesses<br />is termed the minimum film thickness and its variation with the<br />impact velocity has been determined. We find that the interactions<br />between the free surface and rigid particle can be divided into<br />three regimes according to the trend of the first film thickness.<br />The three regimes are viscous regime, inertial regime and jetting<br />regime. In viscous regime, the first film thickness decreases as the<br />impact velocity increases. Then it rises slightly in the inertial<br />regime because the effect of liquid inertia becomes larger as the<br />impact velocity increases. Finally, the film thickness decreases<br />again due to Plateau-Rayleigh instability in the jetting regime.<br />We also find that the minimum film thickness corresponds to an<br />impact velocity on the demarcation point between the viscous and<br />inertial regimes. This fact is caused by the balance of viscous<br />drag, surface deformation and liquid inertia.<br /><br />Thirdly, we consider the interaction between a rigid particle and a<br />deformable bubble. Two typical cases are simulated: (1) Collision of<br />a rigid particle with a gas bubble in water in the absence of<br />gravity, and (2) Collision of a buoyancy-driven rising bubble with a<br />falling particle in highly viscous liquids. We also compare our<br />simulation results with available experimental data. Good agreement<br />is obtained for the force on the particle and the shape of the<br />bubble.<br /><br />Finally, we investigated the collisions of groups of bubbles and<br />particles in two dimensions. A preliminary example of the oblique<br />collision between a single particle and a single bubble is conducted<br />by giving the particle a constant acceleration. Then, to investigate<br />the possibility of particles attaching to bubbles, the interactions<br />between a group of 22 particles and rising bubbles are studied. Due<br />to the fluid motion, the particles involved in central collisions<br />with bubbles have higher possibilities to attach to the bubble."],"dc:description.degree":["Ph. D."],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:161"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/19225"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["Multiphase flow","Bubble-wall interaction","Particle- free surface interaction","Particle-bubble interaction","Film drainage","Bubble"],"dc:title":["Numerical Simulations of Interactions of Solid Particles and Deformable Gas Bubbles in Viscous Liquids"],"dc:type":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Engineering Mechanics"],"thesis:degree_level":["doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph. D."],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:31Z"}