Unstable normal mode for Rayleigh--Taylor instability in viscous fluids

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1977 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.861831· OSTI ID:5431596

Menikoff, R; Mjolsness, R C; Sharp, D H; Zemach, C

The character of the growth rates of the normal modes for Rayleigh--Taylor instability of superposed incompressible, viscous fluids is analyzed in terms of appropriately scaled dimensionless parameters and a particularly simple representation of the Rayleigh--Taylor dispersion relation. The chief feature that emerges is that the scaled growth rate is remarkably insensitive to the values of fluid densities and viscosities. To within a few percent, the physical growth rate depends only on the surface tension, the density-weighted average viscosity, and the effective acceleration. Approximate formulae for the most unstable wavenumber and the corresponding maximum growth rate are given.

• Research Organization: Theoretical Division, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, University of California, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
• OSTI ID: 5431596
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Vol. 20:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
DISPERSION RELATIONS
VISCOUS FLOW
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
NORMAL-MODE ANALYSIS
SURFACE TENSION
VISCOSITY
FLUID FLOW
INSTABILITY
SURFACE PROPERTIES
640410* - Fluid Physics- General Fluid Dynamics