Molecular dynamics study of bubble growth in pure water

Cavitation erosion is one of the main damage styles of dynamic components of ships. In order to suppress cavitation damage, it is particularly important to elucidate the mechanism of nucleation and bubble growth. In this paper, a pure water cavitation model was established using the molecular dynamics method. Based on the constructed model, the processes of nucleation and bubble growth under varying stretching rates and temperature conditions are investigated. The results show that the bubble growth process experiences four stages: nucleation, rapid growth, stable growth, and collapse. Stable bubbles are generated in pure water only when the critical pressure falls below the saturation vapor pressure. A high stretching rate and a low system temperature can reduce the critical pressure. However, once the bubble is formed, the large stretching rate and high system temperature can expedite the bubble growth, leading to a more rapid bubble collapse. Finally, several functions that can accurately predict the nucleation and growth of bubbles under different conditions are presented.