This article reports on the latest experiments in the series of Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) shock-tube experiments. Previous work described a double-bump experiment that evidenced some degree of unrepeatability. The present work features an enlarged perturbation introduced to improve repeatability. In common with the previous work, the experiments were conducted at shock Mach number 1.26 (70 kPa overpressure), using the Atomic Weapons Establishment 200 × 100 mm shock tube with a three-zone test cell arrangement of air/sulphur hexafluoride/air. The sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6) was chosen for its high density (5.1 relative to air) providing an Atwood number of 0.67. Gas separation was by means of microfilm membranes, supported by fine wire meshes. A double-bump perturbation of two-dimensional geometry was superimposed on the downstream membrane representing a 0.6% addition to the dense gas volume. Visualization of the turbulent gas mixing was by laser sheet illumination of the seeded SF6 gas using a copper vapor laser pulsing at 12.5 kHz. Mie scattered light was recorded using a 35-mm rotating drum camera to capture a sequence of 50 images per experiment. Sample experimental results shown alongside corresponding three-dimensional hydrocode calculations highlight the problems in both analysis and comparison caused by multiple scattering arising from the necessary use of a high seeding concentration. Included is a demonstration of the effectiveness of introducing into the hydrocode a Monte Carlo-based simulation of the multiple scattering process. The results so derived yield greatly improved qualitative agreement with the experimental images. Quantitative analysis took the form of deriving relative intensity data from line-outs through experimental images and their code equivalents. A comparison revealed substantial agreement on major features.

This article reports the first Richtmyer–Meshkov instability experiments using an improved version of the Atomic Weapons Establishment convergent shock tube. These investigate the shock-induced turbulent mixing across the interfaces of an air/dense gas/air region. Multipoint ignition of a detonatable gas mixture produces a cylindrically convergent shock that travels into a test cell containing the dense gas region. The mixing process is imaged with shadowgraphy. Sample results are presented from an unperturbed experiment and one with a notch perturbation imposed on one of the dense gas interfaces. The unperturbed experiment shows the mixing across the dense gas boundaries and the motion of the bulk dense gas region. Imposition of the notch perturbation produces a mushroom-shaped air void penetrating the dense gas region. Three-dimensional simulations performed using the AWE TURMOIL3D code are presented and compared with the sample experimental results. A very good agreement is demonstrated. Conducting these first turbulent mixing experiments has highlighted a number of areas for future development of the convergent shock-tube facility; these are also presented.