Abstract:
The use of bubble curtains for underwater acoustic shielding has long been a significant research topic in the fields of ocean and environmental engineering. Innovations in optimizing bubble curtain technology have recently garnered significant attention from both academia and industry, showcasing the potential for enhanced acoustic attenuation capabilities. In this study, an open-source Multiphase Flow Code has been applied to simulate the dynamic behavior of bubble curtains under various parameter configurations and their effects on underwater sound waves. Ensemble-averaged multiphase flow model has been incorporated to account for the interaction between bubbles and the surrounding fluid. Specific focus has been placed on the impacts of bubble size distribution, bubble volume fraction, and bubble curtain thickness on the shielding effectiveness. Additionally, the study investigated the peak attenuation effects of bubble curtains on sound fields with different amplitudes and frequencies. The simulation results demonstrate that the attenuation effect of acoustic energy is positively correlated with the bubble volume fraction. Increasing the thickness of the bubble curtain within a certain threshold range effectively enhances the attenuation effect of sound waves. An optimal initial radius and standard deviation of bubbles were identified to maximize the peak attenuation rate of sound waves, with pressure peaks reduced but limited under a state of dispersed bubble distribution. Bubble curtains exhibit superior acoustic shielding performance in low-amplitude, high-frequency sound fields. This study provides important theoretical foundations and references for the design and optimization of bubble barrier technology.