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A universal criterion for underwater gas bubble stability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2025

Yaolei Xiang ,
Shenglin Huang Open the ORCID record for Shenglin Huang [Opens in a new window] ,
Xu Zhou ,
Pengyu Lv ,
Gang Wang ,
Tian-Yun Huang ,
Hongyuan Li Open the ORCID record for Hongyuan Li [Opens in a new window] ,
Yahui Xue Open the ORCID record for Yahui Xue [Opens in a new window]  and
Huiling Duan Open the ORCID record for Huiling Duan [Opens in a new window]
Yaolei Xiang
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University , Beijing 100871, PR China CAPT, HEDPS and IFSA Collaborative Innovation Center of MoE, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
Shenglin Huang
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University , Beijing 100871, PR China
Xu Zhou
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University , Beijing 100871, PR China
Pengyu Lv
Affiliation:
Department of Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
Gang Wang
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University , Beijing 100871, PR China
Tian-Yun Huang
Affiliation:
Department of Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
Hongyuan Li
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University , Beijing 100871, PR China CAPT, HEDPS and IFSA Collaborative Innovation Center of MoE, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
Yahui Xue
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
Huiling Duan*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University , Beijing 100871, PR China CAPT, HEDPS and IFSA Collaborative Innovation Center of MoE, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
*
Corresponding author: Huiling Duan, hlduan@pku.edu.cn
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Abstract

The stability of underwater bubbles is important to many natural phenomena and industrial applications. Since stability analyses are complex and influenced by numerous factors, they are often performed on a case-specific basis, with most being qualitative. In this work, we propose a unified and quantitative criterion for evaluating bubble stability by analysing its free energy. This criterion is broadly applicable across various bubble sizes (from nanometres to macroscale) and contact conditions (suspended, attached and trapped bubbles) on surfaces with diverse chemical (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) and morphological (flat and structured solid surfaces) features. This criterion not only applies to the classical stable bubble mode, which depends on contact line pinning at the tips of surface structures, but also predicts a new mode where the synergy between the geometry and wettability of the sidewalls maintains the bubble’s stable state. The contact line can spontaneously adjust its position on the solid surface to maintain pressure balance, which enhances bubble adaptability to environmental changes. A geometric standard for solid surfaces supporting this new stable state is raised, following which we realise the optimisation of solid surface geometries to control the stability of gas bubbles. This work not only provides a universal framework for understanding underwater bubble stability, but also opens avenues for applications.

JFM classification

Interfacial Flows (free surface): Thin films Interfacial Flows (free surface): Contact lines

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Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1024 , 10 December 2025 , A13
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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