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Effects of shock waves on Rayleigh-Taylor instability

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2201063· OSTI ID:20787377
; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Mathematics, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, California 92697 (United States)

A numerical simulation of two-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equations using a high-order weighted essentially nonoscillatory finite difference shock capturing scheme is carried out in this paper, to study the effect of shock waves on the development of Rayleigh-Taylor instability. Shocks with different Mach numbers are introduced ahead or behind the Rayleigh-Taylor interface, and their effect on the transition to instability is demonstrated and compared. It is observed that shock waves can speed up the transition to instability for the Rayleigh-Taylor interface significantly. Stronger shocks are more effective in this speed-up process.

OSTI ID:
20787377
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 13; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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