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Title: Direct simulation Monte Carlo investigation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability

Abstract

In this paper, the Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) is investigated using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method of molecular gas dynamics. Here, fully resolved two-dimensional DSMC RTI simulations are performed to quantify the growth of flat and single-mode perturbed interfaces between two atmospheric-pressure monatomic gases as a function of the Atwood number and the gravitational acceleration. The DSMC simulations reproduce many qualitative features of the growth of the mixing layer and are in reasonable quantitative agreement with theoretical and empirical models in the linear, nonlinear, and self-similar regimes. In some of the simulations at late times, the instability enters the self-similar regime, in agreement with experimental observations. Finally, for the conditions simulated, diffusion can influence the initial instability growth significantly.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Engineering Sciences Center
  2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Computing Research Center
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1339256
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1313260
Report Number(s):
SAND2016-1868J
Journal ID: ISSN 2469-990X; 619643; TRN: US1701676
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physical Review Fluids
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 1; Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 2469-990X
Publisher:
APS
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; 42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

Gallis, M. A., Koehler, T. P., Torczynski, J. R., and Plimpton, S. J. Direct simulation Monte Carlo investigation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevFluids.1.043403.
Gallis, M. A., Koehler, T. P., Torczynski, J. R., & Plimpton, S. J. Direct simulation Monte Carlo investigation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.1.043403
Gallis, M. A., Koehler, T. P., Torczynski, J. R., and Plimpton, S. J. 2016. "Direct simulation Monte Carlo investigation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.1.043403. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1339256.
@article{osti_1339256,
title = {Direct simulation Monte Carlo investigation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability},
author = {Gallis, M. A. and Koehler, T. P. and Torczynski, J. R. and Plimpton, S. J.},
abstractNote = {In this paper, the Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) is investigated using the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method of molecular gas dynamics. Here, fully resolved two-dimensional DSMC RTI simulations are performed to quantify the growth of flat and single-mode perturbed interfaces between two atmospheric-pressure monatomic gases as a function of the Atwood number and the gravitational acceleration. The DSMC simulations reproduce many qualitative features of the growth of the mixing layer and are in reasonable quantitative agreement with theoretical and empirical models in the linear, nonlinear, and self-similar regimes. In some of the simulations at late times, the instability enters the self-similar regime, in agreement with experimental observations. Finally, for the conditions simulated, diffusion can influence the initial instability growth significantly.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevFluids.1.043403},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1339256}, journal = {Physical Review Fluids},
issn = {2469-990X},
number = 4,
volume = 1,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Wed Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

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Cited by: 44 works
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  • https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2009.0218

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journal, May 2019


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journal, August 2019


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journal, August 2019


Numerical investigation of nanoporous evaporation using direct simulation Monte Carlo
journal, November 2019