Two-dimensional late-stage coarsening for nucleation and growth at high-area fractions

Numerical simulations of two-dimensional late-stage coarsening for nucleation and growth (Ostwald ripening) are performed at large-area fractions without shape restrictions. We employ efficient computational methods that allow us to study large systems. The free energy of the system we consider is composed of two different curves. Thus, the system consists of a set of isolated particles even at high-area fractions. This is totally different from the interconnected spinodal structures generated by the Cahn-Hilliard model, where the free energy is composed of a single curve. Although the domain structures are quite different, we find that the qualitative features of the structure function for both models are the same

A numerical study of Richtmyer–Meshkov instability in continuously stratified fluids

Theory and calculations are presented for the evolution of Richtmyer–Meshkov instability in two-dimensional continuously stratified fluid layers. The initial acceleration and subsequent instability of the fluid layer are induced by means of an impulsive pressure distribution. The subsequent dynamics of the fluid layer are then calculated numerically using the incompressible equations of motion. Initial conditions representing single-scale perturbations and multiple-scale random perturbations are considered. It is found that the growth rates for Richtmyer–Meshkov instability of stratified fluid layers are substantially lower than those predicted by Richtmyer for a sharp fluid interface with an equivalent jump in density. A frozen field approximation for the early-time dynamics of the instability is proposed, and shown to approximate the initial behavior of the layer over a time equivalent to the traversal of several layer thicknesses. It is observed that the nonlinear development of the instability results in the formation of plumes of penetrating fluid. Late in the process, the initial momentum deposited by the impulse is primarily used in the internal mixing of the layer rather than in the overall growth of the stratified layer. At intermediate times, some evidence for the existence of scaling behavior in the width of the mixing layer of the instability is observed for the multiple-scale random perturbations, but not for the single-scale perturbations. The time variation of the layer thickness differs from the scaling derived using ideas of self-similarity due to Barenblatt [Non-Linear Dynamics and Turbulence, edited by G. I. Barenblatt, G. Ioos, and D. D. Joseph (Pitman, Boston, 1983), p. 48] even at low Atwood ratio, presumably because of the inhomogeneity and anisotropy due to the excitation of vortical plumes

Steady compressible vortex flows: the hollow-core vortex array

We examine the effects of compressiblity on the structure of a single row of hollowcore, constant-pressure vortices. The problem is formulated and solved in the hodograph plane. The transformation from the physical plane to the hodograph plane results in a linear problem that is solved numerically. The numerical solution is checked via a Rayleigh-Janzen expansion. It is observed that for an appropriate choice of the parameters M[infty infinity] = q[infty infinity]/c[infty infinity], and the speed ratio, a = q[infty infinity]/qv, where qv is the speed on the vortex boundary, transonic shock-free flow exists. Also, for a given fixed speed ratio, a, the vortices shrink in size and get closer as the Mach number at infinity, M[infty infinity], is increased. In the limit of an evacuated vortex core, we find that all such solutions exhibit cuspidal behaviour corresponding to the onset of limit lines

On steady compressible flows with compact vorticity; the compressible Stuart vortex

Numerical and analytical solutions to the steady compressible Euler equations corresponding to a compressible analogue of the linear Stuart vortex array are presented. These correspond to a homentropic continuation, to finite Mach number, of the Stuart solution describing a linear vortex array in an incompressible fluid. The appropriate partial differential equations describing the flow correspond to the compressible homentropic Euler equations in two dimensions, with a prescribed vorticity–density–streamfunction relationship. In order to construct a well-posed problem for this continuation, it was found, unexpectedly, to be necessary to introduce an eigenvalue into the vorticity–density–streamfunction equation. In the Rayleigh–Janzen expansion of solutions in even powers of the free-stream Mach number M[infty infinity], this eigenvalue is determined by a solvability condition. Accurate numerical solution by both finite-difference and spectral methods are presented for the compressible Stuart vortex, over a range of M[infty infinity], and of a parameter corresponding to a confined mass-flow rate. These also confirm the nonlinear eigenvalue character of the governing equations. All solution branches followed numerically were found to terminate when the maximum local Mach number just exceeded unity. For one such branch we present evidence for the existence of a very small range of M[infty infinity] over which smooth transonic shock-free flow can occur

Difficulties with three-dimensional weak solutions for inviscid incompressible flow

The representation of an inviscid three-dimensional incompressible flow by vortex singularities is considered and shown to lead to dynamical inconsistencies

Atwood ratio dependence of Richtmyer-Meshkov flows under reshock conditions using large-eddy simulations

We study the shock-driven turbulent mixing that occurs when a perturbed planar density interface is impacted by a planar shock wave of moderate strength and subsequently reshocked. The present work is a systematic study of the influence of the relative molecular weights of the gases in the form of the initial Atwood ratio A. We investigate the cases A = ± 0.21, ±0.67 and ±0.87 that correspond to the realistic gas combinations air–CO_2, air–SF_6 and H_2–air. A canonical, three-dimensional numerical experiment, using the large-eddy simulation technique with an explicit subgrid model, reproduces the interaction within a shock tube with an endwall where the incident shock Mach number is ~1.5 and the initial interface perturbation has a fixed dominant wavelength and a fixed amplitude-to-wavelength ratio ~0.1. For positive Atwood configurations, the reshock is followed by secondary waves in the form of alternate expansion and compression waves travelling between the endwall and the mixing zone. These reverberations are shown to intensify turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation across the mixing zone. In contrast, negative Atwood number configurations produce multiple secondary reshocks following the primary reshock, and their effect on the mixing region is less pronounced. As the magnitude of A is increased, the mixing zone tends to evolve less symmetrically. The mixing zone growth rate following the primary reshock approaches a linear evolution prior to the secondary wave interactions. When considering the full range of examined Atwood numbers, measurements of this growth rate do not agree well with predictions of existing analytic reshock models such as the model by Mikaelian (Physica D, vol. 36, 1989, p. 343). Accordingly, we propose an empirical formula and also a semi-analytical, impulsive model based on a diffuse-interface approach to describe the A-dependence of the post-reshock growth rate

Shock-resolved Navier–Stokes simulation of the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability start-up at a light–heavy interface

The single-mode Richtmyer–Meshkov instability is investigated using a first-order perturbation of the two-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations about a one-dimensional unsteady shock-resolved base flow. A feature-tracking local refinement scheme is used to fully resolve the viscous internal structure of the shock. This method captures perturbations on the shocks and their influence on the interface growth throughout the simulation, to accurately examine the start-up and early linear growth phases of the instability. Results are compared to analytic models of the instability, showing some agreement with predicted asymptotic growth rates towards the inviscid limit, but significant discrepancies are noted in the transient growth phase. Viscous effects are found to be inadequately predicted by existing models

The linear two-dimensional stability of inviscid vortex streets of finite-cored vortices

The stability of two-dimensional infinitesimal disturbances of the inviscid Karman vortex street of finite-area vortices is reexamined. Numerical results are obtained for the growth rate and oscillation frequencies of disturbances of arbitrary subharmonic wavenumber and the stability boundaries are calculated. The stabilization of the pairing instability by finite area demonstrated by Saffman & Schatzman (1982) is confirmed, and also Kida’s (1982) result that this is not the most unstable disturbance when the area is finite. But, contrary to Kida’s quantitative predictions, it is now found that finite area does not stabilize the street to infinitesimal two-dimensional disturbances of arbitrary wavelength and that it is always unstable except for one isolated value of the aspect ratio which depends upon the size of the vortices. This result does agree, however, with those of a modified version of Kida’s analysis

Turbulent mixing driven by spherical implosions. Part 2. Turbulence statistics

We present large-eddy simulations (LES) of turbulent mixing at a perturbed, spherical interface separating two fluids of differing densities and subsequently impacted by a spherically imploding shock wave. This paper focuses on the differences between two fundamental configurations, keeping fixed the initial shock Mach number ≈ 1.2, the density ratio (precisely |A_0| ≈ 0.67) and the perturbation shape (dominant spherical wavenumber ℓ_0=40 and amplitude-to-initial radius of 3 %): the incident shock travels from the lighter fluid to the heavy one, or inversely, from the heavy to the light fluid. In Part 1 (Lombardini, M., Pullin, D. I. & Meiron, D. I., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 748, 2014, pp. 85-112), we described the computational problem and presented results on the radially symmetric flow, the mean flow, and the growth of the mixing layer. In particular, it was shown that both configurations reach similar convergence ratios ≈2. Here, turbulent mixing is studied through various turbulence statistics. The mixing activity is first measured through two mixing parameters, the mixing fraction parameter Theta and the effective Atwood ratio A(e), which reach similar late time values in both light-heavy and heavy-light configurations. The Taylor-scale Reynolds numbers attained at late times are estimated ≈2000 in the light-heavy case and 1000 in the heavy-light case. An analysis of the density self-correlation b, a fundamental quantity in the study of variable-density turbulence, shows asymmetries in the mixing layer and non-Boussinesq effects generally observed in high-Reynolds-number Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) turbulence. These traits are more pronounced in the light-heavy mixing layer, as a result of its flow history, in particular because of RT-unstable phases (see Part 1). Another measure distinguishing light-heavy from heavy-light mixing is the velocity-to-scalar Taylor microscales ratio. In particular, at late times, larger values of this ratio are reported in the heavy-light case. The late-time mixing displays the traits some of the traits of the decaying turbulence observed in planar Richtmyer-Meshkov (RM) flows. Only partial isotropization of the flow (in the sense of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and dissipation) is observed at late times, the Reynolds normal stresses (and, thus, the directional Taylor microscales) being anisotropic while the directional Kolmogorov microscales approach isotropy. A spectral analysis is developed for the general study of statistically isotropic turbulent fields on a spherical surface, and applied to the present flow. The resulting angular power spectra show the development of an inertial subrange approaching a Kolmogorov-like -5/3 power law at high wavenumbers, similarly to the scaling obtained in planar geometry. It confirms the findings of Thomas & Kares (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 109, 2012, 075004) at higher convergence ratios and indicates that the turbulent scales do not seem to feel the effect of the spherical mixing-layer curvature