Rayleigh--Taylor and Richtmyer--Meshkov instabilities in finite-thickness fluid layers

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1995 · Physics of Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.868611· OSTI ID:6548321

Mikaelian, K O ^[1]

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1. University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)

Rayleigh--Taylor (RT) and Richtmyer--Meshkov (RM) instabilities are considered in a fluid layer of thickness [ital t] having perturbations of arbitrary wave number [ital k] at either one or both interfaces. The evolution of the perturbation amplitudes [eta][sub 1,2]([tau]), [tau] =time, is given analytically in terms of a coupling angle [theta] which measures the strength of the coupling between interfaces 1 and 2. A new type of freeze-out in shocked layers is reported according to which, the proximity of the two interfaces can, under proper conditions, lead to the complete freeze-out of one, but not both, perturbations. For example, to freeze the first interface one needs [eta][sub 1](0)/[eta][sub 2](0)= sin [theta]. Freeze-out cannot be achieved in the RT case; instead, one can kill one of the modes. For example, setting [eta][sub 1](0)/[eta][sub 2](0)= tan([theta]/2) will kill the exponentially growing mode, leaving only the oscillatory mode at both interfaces.

• OSTI ID: 6548321
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids; (United States), Vol. 7:4; ISSN 1070-6631
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
PERTURBATION THEORY
SURFACE TENSION
VISCOUS FLOW
FLUID FLOW
INSTABILITY
SURFACE PROPERTIES
661300* - Other Aspects of Physical Science- (1992-)