Richtmyer-Meshkov flow is studied by means of an analytical model which describes the asymptotic oscillations of a corrugated interface between two perfectly elastic solids after the interaction with a shock wave. The model shows that the flow stability is due to the restoring effect of the elastic force. It provides a simple approximate but still very accurate formula for the oscillation period. It also shows that as it is observed in numerical simulations, the amplitude oscillates around a mean value equal to the post-shock amplitude, and that this is a consequence of the stress free conditions of the material immediately after the shock interaction. Extensive numerical simulations are presented to validate the model results.

• Received 19 April 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.74.037301