Film drainage and the lifetime of bubbles. (17th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nguyen, C. T.; Gonnermann, H. M.; Chen, Y.; Huber, C.; Maiorano, A. A.; Gouldstone, A.; Dufek, J.
• Is Part Of: Geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems. Volume 14:Number 9(2013)
• Page Start: 3616
• Page End: 3631
• Publication Date: 2013-09-17
• Subjects: Geochemistry -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; 550.5
• DOI: 10.1002/ggge.20198
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1525-2027

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>[1] We present the results of new laboratory experiments that provide constraints on inter bubble film thinning and bubble coalescence as a consequence of liquid expulsion by gravitational and capillary forces. To ensure dynamic similarity to magmatic systems, the experiments are at small Reynolds numbers <alternatives><inline-graphic mimetype="image" xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgg4t84dvwn" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /><mml:math display="inline" altimg="urn:x-wiley:15252027:media:ggge20198:ggge20198-math-0001" overflow="scroll" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mo stretchy="true">(</mml:mo><mml:mi>R</mml:mi><mml:mi>e</mml:mi><mml:mo>≪</mml:mo><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mo stretchy="true">)</mml:mo></mml:mrow></mml:math></alternatives> and cover a wide range of Bond numbers (10<sup>−3</sup> ≤ <italic>Bo</italic> ≤ 10<sup>2</sup>). Results indicate that at <italic>Bo</italic> < 0.25 film drainage is due to capillary forces, whereas at <italic>Bo</italic> > 0.25 gravitational forces result in film thinning. The film drainage time scale is given by <italic>t</italic> ∼ <italic>C</italic> ln (<italic>α</italic>) <italic>τ</italic> and is orders of magnitude faster than often assumed for magmatic systems. Here, <italic>C</italic> ∼ 10 is an empirical constant and <italic>α</italic> is the ratio of initial film thickness to film thickness at the time of rupture and <italic>τ</italic> is the characteristic capillary or buoyancy time scale at values of <italic>Bo</italic> < 0.25 and <italic>Bo</italic> > 0.25, respectively.</p> </abstract>