We investigate the expansion or growth of an internally pressurized pre-existing small spherical cavity in soft solid blocks made of compressible isotropic Blatz–Ko materials by accounting for cavity surface effects. We seek to study the influence of the dimensionless elastocapillary parameter called \(\gamma ^*\) and Poisson’s ratio, i.e., \(\nu _0\) , on the cavitation phenomenon. In doing so, we revisit the standard approach by transforming the balance equations into a one-dimensional second-order nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE). It turns out that the ODE can be solved only numerically when varying the Poisson’s ratio, i.e., \(\nu _0\) . Firstly, we focus on the classical case in order to validate our numerical findings, that is, for a specific Poisson’s ratio \(\nu _0=0.25\) , the shape factor \(\eta =\) 1.5–100 and zero surface effects. Secondly, we analyze the influence of Poisson’s ratio \(\nu _0=\) 0.25–0.40 on the cavity critical state when \(\eta =3.5\) . Thirdly, we study the effects of varying both the Poisson’s ratio and the dimensionless elastocapillary parameter \(\gamma ^*\) on the cavitation phenomenon.
