dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaOn the miscible Rayleigh-Taylor instability: two and three dimensions
| Authors | Y. Young, H. Tufo, A. Dubey, R. Rosner |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0110073 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0110073 |
| DOI | 10.1017/S0022112001005870 |
| Journal | JFM, 447, pp377, 2001 |
Abstract
We investigate the miscible Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability in both 2 and 3 dimensions using direct numerical simulations, where the working fluid is assumed incompressible under the Boussinesq approximation. We first consider the case of randomly perturbed interfaces. With a variety of diagnostics, we develop a physical picture for the detailed temporal development of the mixed layer: We identify three distinct evolutionary phases in the development of the mixed layer, which can be related to detailed variations in the growth of the mixing zone. Our analysis provides an explanation for the observed differences between two and three-dimensional RT instability; the analysis also leads us to concentrate on the RT models which (1) work equally well for both laminar and turbulent flows, and (2) do not depend on turbulent scaling within the mixing layer between fluids. These candidate RT models are based on point sources within bubbles (or plumes) and interaction with each other (or the background flow). With this motivation, we examine the evolution of single plumes, and relate our numerical results (of single plumes) to a simple analytical model for plume evolution.
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"abstract": "We investigate the miscible Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability in both 2 and 3\ndimensions using direct numerical simulations, where the working fluid is\nassumed incompressible under the Boussinesq approximation. We first consider\nthe case of randomly perturbed interfaces. With a variety of diagnostics, we\ndevelop a physical picture for the detailed temporal development of the mixed\nlayer: We identify three distinct evolutionary phases in the development of the\nmixed layer, which can be related to detailed variations in the growth of the\nmixing zone. Our analysis provides an explanation for the observed differences\nbetween two and three-dimensional RT instability; the analysis also leads us to\nconcentrate on the RT models which (1) work equally well for both laminar and\nturbulent flows, and (2) do not depend on turbulent scaling within the mixing\nlayer between fluids. These candidate RT models are based on point sources\nwithin bubbles (or plumes) and interaction with each other (or the background\nflow). With this motivation, we examine the evolution of single plumes, and\nrelate our numerical results (of single plumes) to a simple analytical model\nfor plume evolution.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0110073",
"authors": [
"Y. Young",
"H. Tufo",
"A. Dubey",
"R. Rosner"
],
"categories": [
"physics.flu-dyn",
"physics.comp-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1017/S0022112001005870",
"journal_ref": "JFM, 447, pp377, 2001",
"title": "On the miscible Rayleigh-Taylor instability: two and three dimensions",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0110073"
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