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Freeze-out and the effect of compressibility in the Richtmyer--Meshkov instability

Journal Article · · Physics of Fluids; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.868091· OSTI ID:5199495
 [1]
  1. University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)

Perturbations of small-amplitude [eta] at the interface between two fluids grow linearly in time after the passage of a shock. According to Richtmyer's prescription, the growth rate is proportional to the Atwood number after the interface has been shocked, [dot [eta]][similar to][ital A][sub after]. The focus is on highly compressible fluids starting with [ital A][sub before][ge]0. By carrying out two-dimensional numerical simulations, several exceptions to Richtmyer's prescription are found, in particular, when [ital A][sub after][le]0. Neither the expected freeze-out when [ital A][sub after]=0 nor the phase reversal when [ital A][sub after][lt]0 is observed. The results, however, are in agreement with Fraley's analysis, which is compared and contrasted with Richtmyer's prescription. Previous calculations and experiments on the Richtmyer--Meshkov instability are analyzed, it is explained why they have not detected the failure of Richtmyer's prescription, and several new numerical and physical experiments are proposed.

OSTI ID:
5199495
Journal Information:
Physics of Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids; (United States) Vol. 6:1; ISSN PHFLE6; ISSN 1070-6631
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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