Toward a complete understanding of quasi-static bubble growth and departure.

ABSTRACT

The distortion by gravity of a quasi-static bubble attached on an upward facing surface in a quiescent liquid is investigated. The contact angle evolution during the growth of such a bubble is studied, and the consequences on the motion of the contact line between the solid and the interface are discussed. From the initial case of a bubble attached to the rim of a nucleation site, the contact line can move inside the cavity for a highly wetting fluid, causing premature departure. For a higher wettability, the contact can either remain attached to the rim of the cavity or spread out of the cavity, depending on the cavity size and geometry. For the latter case, the bubble growth is investigated taking into account a contact angle hysteresis. Finally, a comprehensive map detailing various geometrical characteristics of bubbles is presented, ranging over several orders of magnitude of Bond numbers and normalized volumes. The map aims at being used as a tool for investigating bubble growth in a similar situation.