Validation of an Instability Growth Model Using Particle Image Velocimetry Measurements

K. Prestridge; P. Vorobieff; P. M. Rightley; R. F. Benjamin

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.4353

Validation of an Instability Growth Model Using Particle Image Velocimetry Measurements

K. Prestridge, P. Vorobieff, P. M. Rightley, and R. F. Benjamin

Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 4353 – Published 8 May 2000

Abstract

A varicose-profile, thin layer of heavy gas ( ${SF}_{6}$ ) in lighter gas (air) is impulsively accelerated by a planar, Mach 1.2 shock, producing the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability. We present the first measurements of the circulation in the curtain during the vortex-dominated, nonlinear stage of the instability evolution. These measurements, based on particle image velocimetry data, are employed to validate an idealized model of the nonlinear perturbation growth.

Received 2 December 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.4353

Authors & Affiliations

K. Prestridge¹, P. Vorobieff², P. M. Rightley¹, and R. F. Benjamin¹

¹Dynamic Experimentation Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
²Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131