A second order coupled level set and volume-of-fluid method for computing growth and collapse of vapor bubbles

We present a coupled level set/volume-of-fluid method for computing growth and collapse of vapor bubbles. The liquid is assumed incompressible and the vapor is assumed to have constant pressure in space. Second order algorithms are used for finding "mass conserving" extension velocities, for discretizing the local interfacial curvature and also for the discretization of the cell-centered projection step. Convergence studies are given that demonstrate this second order accuracy. Examples are provided that apply to cavitating bubbles. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.