Nonlinear evolution of the Rayleigh{endash}Taylor and Richtmyer{endash}Meshkov instabilities
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)
Scaled experiments on the nonlinear Rayleigh{endash}Taylor (RT) and Richtmyer{endash}Meshkov (RM) instabilities are described for two limiting conditions. First, at high Reynolds number, the mixing layer is found to grow self-similarly {approximately}{alpha}{sub i}Agt{sup 2} for a constant acceleration and as a power law t{sup {theta}{sub i}} for an impulsive acceleration g=U{delta}(t). The growth coefficients {alpha}{sub i} and exponents {theta}{sub i} are measured over a comprehensive range of Atwood number {ital A}. Second, with non-Newtonian materials, the critical wavelength and amplitude for RT instability associated with the shear modulus and tensile yield of the material is observed over a variety of conditions. The results are applied to naturally occurring supernova explosions and volcanic islands.
- OSTI ID:
- 344935
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-981127--
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 6; ISSN 1070-664X; ISSN PHPAEN
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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