ON THE GROWTH OF AN INITIALLY

SMALL GAS BUBBLE IN AN OVER-

SATURATED LIQUID-GAS SOLUTION

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By R. S. JOHNSON
(School of Mathematics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne)

[Received 28 May 1976. Revise 4 February 1977]

SUMMARY
The model of a spherical gas bubble at the centre of a spherical ball of liquid
containing dissolved gas is considered. In the absence of a gravitational field (so tnat
buoyancy effects are ignored) and with a constant ambient pressure, the bubble may
grow or collapse by the process of diffusion. The equations for the diffusion process
between moving boundaries, and for the bubble motion, are constructed. By examin-
ing the various parameters that arise, including the effects of surface tension, it is
argued that a physically realistic choice is available which enables the problem to be
described in terms of a parameter
initial bubble radius
initial liquid radius
for e —» 0 provided
initial gas concentration
gas density at ambient pressure
is such that S = o(l) but e = o(S) as 8 —• 0. AD other parameters are kept fixed under
this (double) limiting process.
The method of matched asymptotic expansions is employed to obtain the leading
order terms to the gas concentration throughout the liquid. In particular it is found
that near the bubble/liquid interface the concentration takes a rather simple form,
and that near the outer edge the concentration re-adjusts to ensure that the total gas
content remains fixed. The development of the diffusion structure is analysed as time
increases, and with it the growth of the bubble. The case of collapse is also discussed
briefly. This technique enables all the details of the diffusion process to be found and
leads to an equation describing how 'the bubble reaches its ultimate radius. (All
previous work has considered an unbounded liquid with consequent unbounded
bubble growth.) The final bubble radius agrees with an elementary static theory.

1. Introduction
THE expansion, or contraction, of a gas bubble in a liquid-gas solution is of
considerable practical interest. The phenomenon can occur in a vast range of
situations, from chemical processes to the too rapid surfacing of a diver
which produces decompression sickness, or the 'bends'. Some chemical
systems involve fairly simple configurations which can be modelled satisfac-
torily; on the other hand the bubble formation and growth in human tissue
is an immensely more complicated problem. In this paper we shall attempt
[Q. II Meet, and. MaflL, VoLxxx, PL 3, 1977]
304 R. S. JOHNSON

to give an analytical description of one of the simplest bubble growth

problems, namely a gas bubble in a liquid-gas solution. In fact, this problem
has received only numerical examination and certainly warrants further
analytical study.
One virtue of the bubble-liquid problem is the emphasis it puts on the

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dynamical processes: in this case the diffusion of gas through the liquid,
across the liquid-bubble interface and into the bubble, or vice-versa if the
bubble is collapsing. To this end it proves a worthwhile exercise as it
exemplifies the essential characteristics that arise in diffusion problems with
moving boundaries. It is, of course, to be hoped that this analysis can
eventually be generalized to enable problems closer to physical reality to be
studied.
It will be shown in detail how the bubble kinematics and the diffusive
process in the liquid can be examined and described using an appropriate
asymptotic limit. This particular limit is chosen as being relevant to air
bubbles in water. Although the boundary condition at the bubble-liquid
interface used here is rather simple it appears straightforward to extend the
method to more realistic conditions. For example, the effects of critical
concentration thresholds or of thickening contaminants at the interface
could be included: here we shall assume simply that the mass flow rate of
gas into the bubble is proportional to the concentration gradient in the
liquid at the interface. To further simplify the model we shall assume that
the gas bubble changes volume at constant pressure. Thus the bubble and
liquid are to be free of any gravitational field: this also ensures that the
bubble will not move under buoyancy and so symmetry will be retained.
However, surface tension effects at the interface will be included; again it
would seem quite natural to improve on the model by allowing the surface
tension coefficient to depend on radius.
Thus we shall examine the simple model of a spherical bubble of gas
surrounded by a liquid and all maintained at a constant pressure in the
absence of gravity. The liquid will be incompressible and it will be assumed
that the gas, when dissolved in the liquid, changes the volume of the liquid
by a negligible amount. As the gas comes out of solution, both the bubble
and surrounding liquid are free to expand until the pressure in the bubble is
just that of the ambient state. The total amount of gas in the system is to
remain fixed so that at the outer surface of the liquid there is no transport of
gas across this boundary. The mathematical problem now becomes that of a
diffusive process between moving boundaries, and it will be the two-fold aim
of this paper to find the development of both the bubble and the gas
concentration, at all times, throughout the liquid.
In no sense can even our simple model problem be solved in closed form and
so an approximation procedure must be adopted. Thus we shall present a
solution based on the ideas of matched asymptotic expansions, which appear
to have been somewhat neglected in this field of study (see (1)). As a
 ON THE GROWTH OF A SMALL GAS BUBBLE 305

subsidiary objective, therefore, it is hoped to show how this technique proves

most effective and indicates how similar methods can be applied to the more
realistic problems of this type. In particular it will be shown that this
approach enables analytic expressions to be constructed which describe the
approach of the bubble to its final state, whether it expands or contracts.

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The first serious attempt to describe bubble growth, or collapse, was made
by Epstein and Plesset (2), where a number of ad hoc, but reasonable,
assumptions were made which were equivalent to the model chosen here. It
will be seen that their results appear in this work as the leading order term
for the bubble providing the time is not too large. Since they assumed the
bubble was immersed in an infinite expanse of liquid, the diffusive structure
was irrelevant and bubble growth was unbounded. A discussion along
similar lines, but with more mathematical detail, was given by Readey and
Cooper (3); numerical solutions were presented therein for the case of an
infinite expanse of liquid. Cable (4) further compared numerical and experi-
mental results for the same theory. It should be noted that in both (3) and
(4), only dissolving gas bubbles were considered. General conditions for the
growth or dissolution of gas bubbles were developed by Nikolaev (5),
together with the examination of the stability of equilibrium configurations.
This latter work furnishes a prediction for the ultimate size of an expanding
bubble and may be used as a check on our dynamical, time-dependent
solution.

2. The equations and boundary conditions

Assuming throughout that the configuration of the bubble and surround-
ing liquid remains spherically symmetric, let the coordinate r measure
the radial distance from the centre of the bubble. The gas bubble exists for
0 «; r < S(O and the surrounding liquid is confined to S(O <s r =s R(f), where t'
is a time coordinate. If the liquid is to be incompressible then
j t ( R 3 - S 3 ) = V , constant, (1)

whence the real root gives R(O in terms of Sit1). The total mass of gas in the
bubble at any instant in time is given by ^TTS 3 ^ where p,** (tm+ 77S is the
density of the gas. The constant T is proportional to the surface tension
coefficient and p» is the (constant) density of gas at the ambient pressure in
the absence of surface tension effects. Consequently an expression for the
rate of increase of mass in the bubble can be obtained: this must equal the
rate at which gas enters the bubble across the gas-liquid interface, which is
assumed to be

Here, c(r, f) is the gas concentration in the liquid and K is the (constant)
306 R. S. JOHNSON

coefficient of diffusion. The bubble motion is therefore described by the

equation dS K Q

dt' (p»+2T/3S)ar -s
r
with S = St initially at t' = 0.

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The concentration of gas in the liquid is assumed to be described by the
diffusion equation r,.
V
Dt
which for a spherically symmetric geometry becomes
3c dc (d2c2dc\ ...
—,+ V = K—sH
2 . (4)
at' dr \dr Tdr)
The convective term is given by the radial velocity induced by a spherical
expansion, or contraction, of an incompressible fluid, which takes the form
(5)
"-ffifr
Since no gas flow is allowed across the outer boundary, we must have

^ = 0 on r^Rit1). (6)
or
At the inner boundary of the liquid, or bubble surface, it is assumed that the
gas concentration is just that of the saturated solution at the appropriate
pressure; this can be represented by
dp. on r = S(t'), (7)
where d is a constant. The initial concentration at /' = 0 when the bubble
S = St is formed, is taken to be constant throughout the liquid so
c(r, 0) = c,, a constant, S=SrssR (8)
The mathematical problem now becomes one of solving the diffusion
equation in a region between moving boundaries. However, the bubble
boundary itself is not known until the diffusion gradient can be found and
equation (3) solved. Thus we are presented with a formidable task. There
are really only two avenues open to us, either to tackle the problem
numerically, as authors in the past have done, or to attempt a more
complete analytical description based on asymptotic expansions.
Taking this latter view, the problem is re-cast in terms of fixed boundaries
and appropriate non-dimensional variables are introduced. The transforma-
tion of the radial coordinate is accomplished by using
 ON THE GROWTH OF A SMALL GAS BUBBLE 307

which gives z = 0 on r= S(O and z = 1 on r = R(t'). The non-dimensional

variables are
R
(10)

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with K? = 3V/4ir and SJRi = e. Inserting (9) and (10) into (1), (3), (4), (6),
(7) and (8) yields
z(p-ea) €3<r2&
p — ecr

:
(^W""+i (11)
with conditions
— = 0 on 2 = 1, (12)
dZ
) on z = 0, (13)
u(z, 0) = l for 0 « z « l , (14)
where
(15)
du
and <r=l on T = 0.
p/<r)(p-e<r)dz (16)
The dot denotes a total derivative with respect to T and the constants in (13)
and (16) are defined as

Poo 3pooS| Cj

The set of equations (11) to (16) now involves four parameters. Of these, it
is expected that € will be very small indeed ;t typical air bubble experiments
in water correspond to £•=> 10~4, or even smaller. Both |3 and y turn out to
be somewhere around 0 1 to 10, in fact, we shall see that a critical value is
y(l + | 0 ) = 1. The suggestion so far would be to examine the mathematical
problem described by S, /3, y fixed as e —> 0. Unfortunately, if 5 is held fixed
as e —* 0, the equations are still unmanageable. As it happens, for air bubbles
in water (or water based liquids) the value of 8 is about 10~2. Thus the
problem of more practical interest is represented by 0, y = O(l) as e, 8 -*• 0.
Although the problem now involves a limiting process associated with two
parameters, some headway can be made. Certainly, if the complete asymp-
totic sequence for this problem is required then 8 = 8{e) must be specified,
but a far weaker condition will suffice if only the dominant behaviour is to
t Note, however, that it is assumed that a bubble is formed instantaneously (at T •= 0) and so
for the present theory.
308 R. S. JOHNSON

be extracted. It is clear from (11) to (16) that important differences arise

when 8 is greater than, or equal to, or less than O(e) as e -*• 0. Noting the
typical numerical values given above, we choose to examine the case

e = o(8) as c, S-+0.

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This condition ensures that variations in bubble growth, from (16), are more
important than higher-order effects associated with the diffusion equation
(11).

3. Asymptotic solution for e —» 0

The solution will be developed as a number of different asymptotic
expansions valid in various regions but matched across the overlap domains.
For simplicity we shall denote each region by Nx where the number N is the
time band starting at N= 1 (T = O(C 2 )) and the letter x is the space region,
from left to right, starting from x = a. The results will be presented for each
time region and the resulting grid is given in Fig. 2 (section 4). This figure
also gives the relevant scalings and variables used in each region, which may
prove to be a useful guide to the reader.
The asymptotic expansions developed here can be extended to any
number of terms provided 5(e) is specified. We shall derive only the
minimum number of terms consistent with describing the dominant be-
haviour of the bubble growth and the diffusive process throughout the
liquid. This will be sufficient to enable us to compare our results with those
of Epstein and Plesset (2) and Nikolaev (5). The various expansions will be
presented in chronological order away from T = 0 and then in sequence away
from z = 0. This is more convenient than starting with the equation as given
in (11) for T = O(l), z = O(l). The first time region and first space region (I)
are given by T = O(e2), z = O(e).

(i) Region I: T = O(e2)

In this first region we define

and note that the bubble starts from a radius of unity so that from (16) it is
clear that for T=O(1),
i(T), e,8->0. (17)

Thus o-i(T) satisfies the equation

&!= uz | with o-i = 0 on T = 0. (18)

1+p z-o
 ON THE GROWTH OF A SMALL GAS BUBBLE 309

Also, for Z = O(l), the diffusion equation reduces to

UOT = "ozz + ^ Y "oz, (19)

if u ~ Uo(Z, T), with the conditions

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Uo(Z,0) = l, Uo(0,T) =
and uo ~* 1 as Z —» oo since the diffusive process has yet to alter significantly
the initial concentration. In fact Uo differs only by exponentially small terms,
as c -> 0, from unity as Z -> o° (z -» 1).
The solution to (19) therefore becomes

(20)

from which UQZ on Z = 0 may be determined and written into (18) resulting
in the solution
a
W = -77TMl+!/3)-lHT+2V(77ir)}. (21)
1+ p
Consequently, the bubble growth/collapse is governed by

f > ( l + i/3)~\ collapse 1

Y
l < ( l + §0)~\ growth 1

and y = (l+\&)~1 requires the examination of higher-order terms in the

expansion for a which will not be pursued here. No matter which case in
(22) is required, the expansion (17), with the second term given in (21), is
not uniformly valid as T - + « when 5T= O(l).
From solution (20) we observe that as z -*• 1 (Z-> t" 1 ) the concentration
differs from unity by exponentially small terms and so u z = 0 on Z = e" 1 is
satisfied with the same error. Finer details in the neighbourhood of z = 1 can
be obtained by examining the boundary layer z - 1 = O(e2). In fact, a more
complete description can be obtained by solving (19) by a transform method
and applying the correct boundary condition on z = 1. Of course, the final
transformed solution cannot be inverted in terms of tabulated functions but
it agrees with (20) and gives the structure of the solution near z = 1.

(ii) Regions Ua,b: T = O ( C 2 6 " 1 )

The break-down of the expansion (17) for the bubble radius requires
that a new time-scale be introduced, thus
t = ST with a~yo(t).
310 R. S. JOHNSON

To leading order, the development of the bubble is now described by the

equation

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with yo-*l as t->0 to match with (17). With Z=O(1), equation (11)
reduces to
2
0

which has the general solution

where JB and C are to be determined. This is accomplished by using the

conditions
MO, t) = y(l + 3p/2!?0), and uo-*l as Z-K*>,

this latter condition ensuring that the concentration is still predominantly

unity away from the bubble surface. Having found Uo(Z, r) as

PT
, (23)

the expression for UoZ on Z = 0 follows and the bubble equation becomes

which is essentially the equation given by Epstein and Plesset (2) when their
result is approximated for large time, and surface tension effects retained.
From (24) the bubble radius can be found implicitly in terms of the time as

y
giving o~l-r— {y(l+ip)-l}t as t-*0,
1+
P
which matches with (21).
Although it is beyond the direct aims of this paper, it is clear that (25)
may be used to determine the dissolution times for the bubble when
 ON THE GROWTH OF A SMALL GAS BUBBLE 311

7-
0-50
0-75
6-

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5-
i

4-

3-
1-00
2

o-w
0-0 01 10 10-0

FIG. 1. Dissolution times ^ as a function of ^ for various y.

Y>(l+|/3) \ If t = t is the time at which the bubble is completely

dissolved (Sf = 0) then

(26)

to leading order as € —• 0. (The asymptotic expansion of which Sf0 is the first

term is uniformly valid for S^o -» 0 as t —* lj < °°.) The values of r^ for various fi
and 7, are given in Fig. 1. Note that the special case y = 100 is included
since it may be shown that as y —* 1 so t^ —*5+i0~1.
If 7<(l+§/3)~ 1 , then from (25) it follows that
as <-°o, (27)
with y < 1 since /3 > 0. This is the well-known growth law (see (2)) as-
sociated with the properties of solutions of the diffusion equation (see (1)). If
the surrounding liquid were extended to infinity, then the bubble would
grow without bound as described by (27). However, in the present analysis
the surrounding liquid extends only to z = 1 and so, eventually, the bubble
will reach a maximum finite radius.
To complete the details of region II, it must be observed that the solution
(23) can not be valid out to a neighbourhood of the outer surface, z = 1.
From the full equation (11), written in terms of Z and t, it follows that the
312 R. S. JOHNSON

time derivative is important when Z = O(5~*). (Also, near z = 1, the bound-

ary layer mentioned in region I appears in region II, but diffused somewhat
further into the liquid, where z-l = O(e2S~1).)
To match the solution in lib with that in Ila, (23), then we set

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where f = 5*Z so that
2
o« -

and Uo must satisfy

±{(y-l)Sro(t)+fyy} as

0 as f-»oo.

The solution for Uo can be found directly and this results in

M ~ 1 - 8* - 4 - f" {(1 - - > W - !*/4y2) -§^7}c" y3 dy, (28)

for the concentration in region lib (where Sfo(") is given by (25)).

As t —* oo, we have seen that the bubble grows like fi and so the solution
given in (28) becomes somewhat simplified. Further, if the behaviour for
f -+ oo is now examined it is found that it no longer agrees with (20) in the
boundary layer at z = l. Nevertheless, it is straightforward to find a un-
iformly valid representation of (28) for both £-»oo (t fixed) and t—*•<*>,
Q-Jt -*• oo. Evaluating near the outer edge of the liquid we obtain

(29)

As t increases the diffusion process propagates from the inner (z = 0) to

the outer (z = 1) boundaries of the liquid. At times /=O(A~ 1 ), A—*Q,
solution (23) is valid up to Z = O(A~*); similarly (28) holds for £= O(A~*)
and the boundary layer grows to a thickness z - 1 = O(e28~1A~1). However,
it is clear that we may not allow t —* °o indefinitely for eventually the region
£ = O(A~*) and the boundary layer coincide, this occurs when A = e2S~1 or
T = O(l). On this time scale, which is the time required to significantly alter
the concentration at distances z = O(l), the results given here for region II
 ON THE GROWTH OF A SMALL GAS BUBBLE 313

are no longer uniformly valid. In particular, when A = e28~i, the concentra-

tion is u = 1 + 0(8*).

(iii) Regions III a, b:r=O(l)

The first region is unaltered in structure although it has diffused further

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from the bubble surface. If z = 8*17, then
( y l ) S 0 + 683py2
i
w~l+ j — , (30)
S+T?
where the first two terms in the expansion are given. The bubble radius is
now described by
a-e-'siSoir), S0 = {2(1-7)T}>. (31)
Note from (30) that for 17 —> 0, u ~ y and the gas concentration near the
expanding bubble is no longer close to unity.
Region Illb is where 2 = O(I) and therefore includes the outer boundary
of the liquid. From region lib, matching is accomplished only if

u~l + S^U0(z,r), (32)

2
whence £^ T =[^zz^—U Oz . (33)

The solution to (33) is to satisfy l/Oz = 0 on z = 1, and to match both as

2 -» 0 and as T - » 0. Writing W= zU0, the problem can be expressed as
f W = (y-1M2(1--yM* on 2 = 0,]
Wr = Wzz with lwz = Wz~* on z =\ \ (34)
ltV = O o n T = O.J
This can be solved directly by using the Laplace transform; if W(z, p) =
then
(Vp-l)e^-'> + ( l W p ) e ^ - »

where W0 = ( y - l){2(l-y)}V«p"*. (36)

Although (35) cannot be inverted in terms of elementary, or tabulated
functions, the behaviour of the solution as T —*• °° can be extracted with ease
by considering p —• 0. This yields

u~ 1 -

which is not uniformly valid when T = O(5~*), and then u ~

314 R. S. JOHNSON

(iv) Regions IV a, b: T = 0(8'*)

The time-scale relevant in these regions is the largest that occurs naturally
in the problem, being the time to diffuse across the liquid ( T = O ( 1 ) ) ,
together with the time required to produce significant changes to the bubble
volume, O(8-l) (see (44)). The bubble radius is given by a~e'l8^10(T)

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with 9" = S*T, and so for X = 8~*z the concentration is given by

u~Uo, L W + T ^ l / O x = 0, (38)
A +Zo
yielding the general solution
^ 09)
The arbitrary functions, A(T) and B(&), are to be determined by evaluating
(39) on X = 0 and matching to (30): the bubble radius must also match as
9"-»0, thus
$ as ff-^O. (40)
This results in the concentration

where A-(y-l) Xo as &-+0.

In the final region IVb, where z = O(l), the concentration is expressed as

which means that

2 2

"Ozr+-"O. = 0 , U l t I + - U l z = Uoa-.
Z Z
Solving for both u<> and U!, and satisfying the boundary conditions uoz =
u lz = 0 on z = 1, yields
(42)

which matches precisely with (41) (as z—*0, X—»<») if

C=y--=- and ?C = A.

Also, if A and S o are to match as 9~ -* 0, then

as 3"-*0.
So eliminating C, solving for A and making use of the behaviour as 3" —* 0
gives , f9-
 ON THE GROWTH OF A SMALL GAS BUBBLE 315

Now from (41) we can express duJdX on X = 0 in terms of 20(&) and hence
obtain the equation for the bubble motion as

} (43)

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With the solution for Xo(^) the dominant behaviour throughout region IV
is known. To obtain 1o(&), we observe that (43) can be recast as the
equation
^o^o = Ao~^<o> (44)
where Ao = ( l - y ) if lo~{2(l-y)9^ as 3~->0. It is now clear that the final
stages of the bubble growth have been reached since Xo —> Ao as ST-* °°. in
fact, (44) may be integrated to yield
+l (45)
^U^J'
which satisfies Xo ~ {2(1 - y)T£ as 5" -> 0. Consequently, for J - • °°, it follows
that
Xo~Ao-e-3x°(:r-^, (46)
where 5"0 = (ln 3 + 2 In ko — TT/y/3)/6ko, and it is straightforward to verify that
the asymptotic expansion for the bubble is now uniformly valid as 3~ —* °°.

4. Discussion
This work has shown how the use of asymptotic techniques reduces a
complicated moving-boundary problem to a sequence of almost elementary
mathematical exercises. Any given region across the surrounding liquid can
be described quite easily when the restrictions due to matching are imposed.
The resulting picture for all the matched regions is represented schemati-
cally in Fig. 2. It must be remembered, however, that we have considered
the problem described by e, 8 -*• 0 such that eJS —• 0. Other choices of 5 will
certainly alter the details, although it is to be expected that the overall
structure of the solution will be similar.
We have described explicitly how the concentration drops from u = 1,
initially, to u = y as T —»°°. This occurs quite rapidly near the bubble, as one
would expect, but more slowly near the outer surface. In fact the deviation
from unity is only exponentially small in a boundary layer near z = 1. The
effects of the boundary conditions applied on both z = 0, 1 diffuse inwards
from the boundaries and eventually meet when T = O(l), the diffusion time
associated with distances O(l). At later times, the outer and inner bound-
aries are 'aware of each other's presence' and the bubble growth rate starts to
slow. The dominant behaviour for the concentration has been obtained from
the appropriate approximations to the original diffusion equation, (11).
However, the terms in (11) arising from a were not required in any region,
316 R. S. JOHNSON

IVa IVb
0(8"*)

Ilia Illb

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0(1)
S (T) (r,,r)

Ha lib
0(6*8-! )

I
a(T) (Z,T)

FIG. 2. Schematic representation of the asymptotic regions with the ap-

propriate variables given in each box. The scalings appear along the abscissa
and the bubble radius on the far left. Note that e = 0(6) for the ordering as
described.

to the order we considered, and so we have actually solved here

2
(47)
2 + C(T

with the conditions as given in equations (12) to (16). This means that the
rate of bubble growth does not contribute to this order, but this is not
equivalent to ignoring the moving boundary; the coefficient in (47) which
involves <T(T; e, S) cannot be simplified further. Even (47), with the stipu-
lated boundary conditions, has involved us in a number of regions and only
rarely can more than one region be described by a uniformly valid transform
function.
The early stages of the bubble motion can be described very simply by
(21), but for larger times an implicit relation is developed, (25). As men-
tioned, this result is essentially that due to Epstein and Plesset (2), and is
valid for both growth and collapse. In particular the time at which total extinction
occurs (T = e28~1td) can be estimated, (26). On the other hand, if the bubble
expands, so that y<(l+ifi)~1, then for sufficiently large time the radius is
proportional to Jr. This growth would continue if the surrounding liquid,
and therefore its gas content, were infinite in extent. However, the fact that
 ON THE GROWTH OF A SMALL GAS BUBBLE 317

the gas content is finite, albeit large, eventually determines that the bubble
reaches a final size. The bubble radius then satisfies (44),

where or~e~ I S*2 o (y), 5T = 8*T and A0 = (l-y)*, which describes a relaxa-

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tion process as the final bubble radius,

as c, 6 - • 0, (48)

or

is approached. Obviously as the gas concentration drops from unity to y the

gas enters the bubble and it expands. The total amount of gas entering
determines the final radius. Expression (48) is the resulting radius if the
initial radius is taken as zero and surface tension effects are ignored on the
final radius. This simple argument is at the heart of the analysis due to
Nikolaev (5), where the gas previously dissolved has entered the bubble
causing a change in volume. An equilibrium configuration is then one in
which the pressure difference across the interface is maintained by the
surface tension. Since this condition is generally true, the quartic given in (5)
can be approximated, as outlined above, and shown to agree with (48).
Of particular interest here is how the bubble reaches its stable equilibrium
configuration. The relaxation equation, (44), which depicts the bubble
growth is of such a simple form that it requires some interpretation. When
written in the original physical variables it becomes
dS_ K UTT(S3-S3)
dt'~PA 3VS
(see (1) and (3)) where S = C^SUQS,. The term in brace brackets which is the
ratio of the concentration of gas in the liquid which will eventually enter
the bubble to the bubble radius, i.e.
dc
~dr r-S

is evaluated as a linear gradient on [0, S].

The method of matched asymptotic expansions as applied to this problem
clearly shows the wealth of detail that can be obtained. It also enables the
various ad hoc approximations used by other authors to be represented as
formal limiting processes. There would certainly appear to be every possibil-
ity of improving the model significantly, for example, by using a more
realistic boundary condition at the bubble surface. However, if spherical
symmetry is lost, except for small deviations perhaps, then the problem is
unlikely to be capable of a presentation as given here. One particular aspect
318 R. S. JOHNSON

that has been totally ignored is the effect on the bubble surface due to
non-spherical disturbances. It is known for example that large bubbles can
exhibit 'wobbles' which constitute an instability. Nevertheless, the analysis
does show how this moving-boundary problem can be described in some
detail and we can expect that more sophisticated models would follow suit.

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Acknowledgement
The author would like to extend his thanks to the Department of Surgery
(Decompression Sickness Research Team) at the University of Newcastle
upon Tyne, and particularly to Mr. P. Trowbridge, for providing the impetus
and the background to this problem.

REFERENCES
1. J. R. OCKENDON and W. R. HODOKINS, Moving Boundary Problems in Heat Flow
and Diffusion (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1975.)
2. P. S. EPSTEIN and M. S. PLESSET, J. chem. Phys. 18 (1950) 1505-1509.
3. D. W. READEY and A. R. COOPER, Chem. Engng ScL 21 (1966) 917-922.
4. M. CABLE, ibid 22 (1967) 1393-1398.
5. V. P. NIKOLAEV, Space Biol. Med. 4 (1970) 110-118.