Air Bubble Entrainment In Free-surface Turbulen... May 2026

The cavity collapses due to local instabilities, often following a power-law scaling.

The free surfaces enclose, releasing a single or group of air bubbles into the turbulent flow. Key Drivers and Models Air Bubble Entrainment in Free-Surface Turbulen...

Air Bubble Entrainment in Free-Surface Turbulent Shear Flows The cavity collapses due to local instabilities, often

The free surface begins to deform slightly, but no air is yet trapped. A surface cavity develops, reaching deeper into the

A surface cavity develops, reaching deeper into the water while the sides remain smooth.

Air entrainment is not a singular event but a multi-stage process driven by the instability of the air-water interface:

"Air Bubble Entrainment in Free-Surface Turbulent Shear Flows" is a seminal area of study in hydraulic and fluid engineering, primarily defined by the work of Hubert Chanson . This process occurs when turbulence in a liquid becomes strong enough to overcome surface tension and gravity, causing air to be trapped and dispersed as bubbles into the flow. Core Mechanisms of Entrainment