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Atwood-number dependence of the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability at a heavy–light single-mode interface

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2025

Yinuo Xing ,
Chenren Chen ,
Jiaxuan Li Open the ORCID record for Jiaxuan Li [Opens in a new window] ,
He Wang Open the ORCID record for He Wang [Opens in a new window] ,
Zhigang Zhai Open the ORCID record for Zhigang Zhai [Opens in a new window]  and
Xisheng Luo Open the ORCID record for Xisheng Luo [Opens in a new window]
Yinuo Xing
Affiliation:
Advanced Propulsion Laboratory, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
Chenren Chen
Affiliation:
Advanced Propulsion Laboratory, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
Jiaxuan Li
Affiliation:
Advanced Propulsion Laboratory, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
He Wang*
Affiliation:
Advanced Propulsion Laboratory, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
Zhigang Zhai
Affiliation:
Advanced Propulsion Laboratory, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
Xisheng Luo*
Affiliation:
Advanced Propulsion Laboratory, Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China State Key Laboratory of High-Temperature Gas Dynamics, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
*
Corresponding authors: Xisheng Luo, [email protected]; He Wang, [email protected]
Corresponding authors: Xisheng Luo, [email protected]; He Wang, [email protected]
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Abstract

The dependence of the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) on post-shock Atwood number ($A_1$) is experimentally investigated for a heavy–light single-mode interface. We create initial interfaces with density ratios of heavy to light gases ranging from 1.73 to 34.07, and achieve the highest $|A_1|$ value reported to date for gaseous-interface experiments (0.95). For the first time, spike acceleration is observed in experiments with a heavy–light configuration. The models for the start-up, linear and weakly nonlinear evolution stages are evaluated over a wide range of $A_1$ conditions. Specifically, the models proposed by Li et al. (Phys. Fluids, vol. 36, 2024, 056104) and Wouchuk & Nishihara (Phys. Plasmas, vol. 4, 1997, 1028–1038) effectively describe the start-up and linear stages, respectively, across all cases. None of the considered nonlinear models is valid under all $A_1$ conditions. Based on the dependence of spike and bubble evolutions on $A_1$ provided by the present work and previous study (Chen et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 975, 2023, A29), the SEA model (Sadot et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 80, 1998, pp. 1654–1657), whose expression has clear physical meanings, is modified by revising the coefficient that governs its prediction for early-time evolution. The modified model applies to prediction of the weakly nonlinear evolution of RMI with $A_1$ ranging from −0.95 to −0.35 and from 0.30 to 0.86. Based on this model, an approximation of the critical $A_1$ for the occurrence of spike acceleration is obtained.

JFM classification

Compressible Flows: Shock waves Turbulent Flows: Compressible turbulence Instability: Nonlinear instability
Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1007 , 25 March 2025 , A54
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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