Two-way coupled Reynolds and Rayleigh–Plesset equations for a fully transient, multiphysics cavitation model with pseudo-cavitation

This study presents a physics-based cavitation model solving the coupled Rayleigh–Plesset (RP) and Reynolds (RE) equations in a fully transient environment. Inclusion of the surface dilatational viscosity within the interfacial stress balance of a dynamically growing bubble is discussed at length and detailed physical insight into its mechanism adds significantly to the existing body of literature. A parametric study establishes the importance of the surface dilatational viscosity and values on the order of 10−2 to 10−4 [Ns/m] are shown to establish upper and lower bounds on tensile stresses producing the full and half-Sommerfeld-like solutions respectively. Interactions between rotational speed and eccentricity ratio are elucidated with the overall effect of increasing surface dilatational viscosity shown to be de-stabilizing. •A physics-based, (pseudo)-cavitation model is developed.•The model time-synchronizes solution of the Rayleigh-Plesset and Reynolds equations.•Surface dilatational viscosity influences cavitation zone expanse and pressures.•Larger surface dilatational viscosity reduces bearing stability.