This work presents the description of numerical models for the conducting spark channel formed by the electrical breakdown of water gap between a pair of electrodes for elliptical and cylindrical shapes of discharge cavities.
The dynamics of channel expansion calculated with cylindrical and elliptical models is compared with experimental results. Time dependence of radial expansion calculated with cylindrical model shows good agreement with experimental measurements in the beginning of channel propagation while for the model of elliptical cavity it gives better agreement at the later stages.
Calculated magnitudes of radial expansion velocity and pressure in the discharge channel differ significantly for elliptical and cylindrical models