Resolving parameter uncertainties in non-spherical bubble dynamics: a measurement simulation comparison study

A widely cited experimental dataset (Cleve et al. , J. Fluid Mech. , 2019, vol. 875, pp. 597–621) on non-spherical acoustic cavitation dynamics provides a valuable benchmark for model validation, yet its use is hindered by large uncertainties in the two key parameters: the equilibrium bubble radius and the acoustic pressure amplitude. This study introduces a robust parameter-identification framework to resolve these discrepancies and enable meaningful comparison with models. Using an in-house graphics processing unit-accelerated solver for solving the second-order perturbation model developed by Shaw ( Phys. Fluids , 2006, vol. 18, issue 7, p. 072104), the dataset is systematically re-examined. A Fourier coefficient-based error metric is developed to quantify the pronounced mismatch between simulations and measurements. The proposed method reliably corrects the vast majority of the experimental parameters, yielding excellent agreement between numerical predictions and observations. The outcome is a validated dataset with accurately identified parameters that can serve as a reliable benchmark for validating advanced computational fluid dynamics simulations and theoretical models. In addition, the approach offers a general tool for future experiments where direct measurements of local acoustic pressure remain difficult.