An Experimental Study of the Turbulent Development of Rayleigh-Taylor and Richtmyer-Meshkov Instabilities
The objective of this three-year research program is to study the development of turbulence in Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) and Richtmyer-Meshkov (RM) instabilities. Incompressible RT and RM instabilities are studied in an apparatus in which a box containing two unequal density liquids is accelerated on a linear rail system either impulsively (by bouncing it off of a spring) to produce RM instability, or at a constant downward rate (using a weight and pulley system) to produce RT instability. These experiments are distinguished from others in the field in that they are initialized with well defined, measurable initial perturbations and are well visualized utilizing planar laser induced fluorescence imaging. New experiments are proposed aimed at generating fully turbulent RM and RT instabilities and quantifying the turbulent development once fully turbulent flows are achieved. The proposed experiments focus on the development and the subsequent application of techniques to accelerate the production of fully turbulent instabilities and the quantification of the turbulent instabilities once they are achieved. The proposed tasks include: the development of RM and RT experiments utilizing fluid combinations having larger density ratios than those previously used; the development of RM experiments with larger acceleration impulse than that previously used; and the investigation of the multi-mode and three-dimensional instabilities by the development of new techniques for generating short wavelength initial perturbations. Progress towards fulfilling these goals is currently well on track. Recent results have been obtained on experiments that utilize Faraday resonance for the production of a nearly single-mode three-dimensional perturbation with a short enough wavelength to yield a self-similar instability at late-times. Last year we reported that we can reliably generate Faraday internal waves on the interface in our experimental apparatus by oscillating the tank containing the two fluids in the vertical direction at the proper frequency. This past year we have completed experiments that demonstrate that self similarity is achieved in these experiments utilizing this perturbation. Also, last year we reported preliminary experiments utilizing a new miscible fluid combination, consisting of a new very heavy salt solution and water, that has an Atwood number of approximately 0.5. This past year we have completed experiments showing that this fluid combination is capable of generating a self-similar RT growth when initiated with a planar interface.
- Research Organization:
- University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG52-04NA00142
- OSTI ID:
- 894249
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NA/00142-2; TRN: US0703154
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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