Effect of compressibility on the Rayleigh--Taylor instability

Journal Article · Mon Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1983 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864158· OSTI ID:6516460

Bernstein, I B; Book, D L

Eigenfrequencies are calculated for infinitesimal perturbations of the system consisting of two semi-infinite regions, each filled with a constant-temperature ideal polytrope stratified exponentially against gravity. The linear growth rate for the Rayleigh--Taylor instability which occurs when the density above the interface exceeds that below it is shown in the model to vary linearly with wavenumber k as k..-->..0. The incompressible fluid result is obtained when the adiabatic index ..gamma.. approaches infinity. For finite ..gamma.. (i.e., compressible fluids), the growth rates are in general larger than in the incompressible case. Numerical results and limiting cases are described which illustrate this conclusion.

• Research Organization: Berkeley Research Associates, Springfield, Virginia 22150
• OSTI ID: 6516460
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 26:2; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ADIABATIC PROCESSES
COMPRESSIBILITY
DENSITY
DISTURBANCES
EIGENVALUES
FLUIDS
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
INTERFACES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
STRATIFICATION
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION