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Title: Rarefaction-driven Rayleigh–Taylor instability. Part 2. Experiments and simulations in the nonlinear regime

Journal Article · · Journal of Fluid Mechanics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2017.893· OSTI ID:1419851
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
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Experiments and large eddy simulation (LES) were performed to study the development of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability into the saturated, nonlinear regime, produced between two gases accelerated by a rarefaction wave. Single-mode two-dimensional, and single-mode three-dimensional initial perturbations were introduced on the diffuse interface between the two gases prior to acceleration. The rarefaction wave imparts a non-constant acceleration, and a time decreasing Atwood number,$$A=(\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{2}-\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{1})/(\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{2}+\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{1})$$, where$$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{2}$$and$$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{1}$$are the densities of the heavy and light gas, respectively. Experiments and simulations are presented for initial Atwood numbers of$A=0.49$$,$$A=0.63$$,$$A=0.82$$and$$A=0.94$$. Nominally two-dimensional (2-D) experiments (initiated with nearly 2-D perturbations) and 2-D simulations are observed to approach an intermediate-time velocity plateau that is in disagreement with the late-time velocity obtained from the incompressible model of Goncharov (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 88, 2002, 134502). Reacceleration from an intermediate velocity is observed for 2-D bubbles in large wavenumber,$$k=2\unicode[STIX]{x03C0}/\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}=0.247~\text{mm}^{-1}$$, experiments and simulations, where$$\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}$is the wavelength of the initial perturbation. At moderate Atwood numbers, the bubble and spike velocities approach larger values than those predicted by Goncharov’s model. These late-time velocity trends are predicted well by numerical simulations using the LLNL Miranda code, and by the 2009 model of Mikaelian (Phys. Fluids., vol. 21, 2009, 024103) that extends Layzer type models to variable acceleration and density. Large Atwood number experiments show a delayed roll up, and exhibit a free-fall like behaviour. Finally, experiments initiated with three-dimensional perturbations tend to agree better with models and a simulation using the LLNL Ares code initiated with an axisymmetric rather than Cartesian symmetry.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Contributing Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0002929; AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1419851
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1568010
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-787438; applab; PII: S002211201700893X; TRN: US1801403
Journal Information:
Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 838; ISSN 0022-1120
Publisher:
Cambridge University PressCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 22 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (1)

Interfacial instability at a heavy/light interface induced by rarefaction waves journal January 2020

Figures / Tables (32)

TABLE 1(p. 5)table TABLE 1
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