On the effectiveness of a quasistatic bubble-scale simulation in predicting the constriction flow of a two-dimensional foam

Abstract

A comprehensive set of experiments on a two-dimensional constriction flow of a foam are described. Image analysis of the flow is used to ascertain bubble shape and flow dynamics. The bubble velocity, elongation (texture), stress, and deformation rate for a reference case are used to validate a quasistatic simulation. Changes to the constriction geometry, most especially in the rounding of the corners, have a significant effect on the response of the foam, captured in both experiment and simulation. On the other hand, foam properties such as bubble size have little C impact on the rheological behavior of the foam in the range considered here.