On the Rayleigh-Taylor unstable dynamics of three-dimensional interfacial coherent structures with time-dependent acceleration

Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) occurs in a range of natural and industrial processes. Whereas the majority of existing studies have considered constant acceleration, RTI is in many instances driven by variable acceleration. Here we focus on RTI driven by acceleration with a power-law time-depende...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Desmond L. Hill, Snezhana I. Abarzhi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2019-07-01
Series:AIP Advances
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5116870
_version_ 1828430599052853248
author Desmond L. Hill
Snezhana I. Abarzhi
author_facet Desmond L. Hill
Snezhana I. Abarzhi
author_sort Desmond L. Hill
collection DOAJ
description Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) occurs in a range of natural and industrial processes. Whereas the majority of existing studies have considered constant acceleration, RTI is in many instances driven by variable acceleration. Here we focus on RTI driven by acceleration with a power-law time-dependence, and, by applying a group theoretic method, find solutions to this classical nonlinear boundary value problem. We deduce that the dynamics is dominated by the acceleration and that the solutions depend critically on the acceleration parameters for values of the acceleration exponent greater than (-2). We find that in the early-time dynamics, the RTI growth-rate is defined by modified Bessel functions. For the late-time dynamics, we link the interface dynamics with an interfacial shear function, find a continuous family of regular asymptotic solutions and identify invariant properties of nonlinear RTI. The essentially interfacial and multi-scale character of the dynamics is also demonstrated. The velocity field is potential in the bulk, and vortical structures may appear at the interface due to interfacial shear. The multi-scale character becomes clear from the invariance properties of the dynamics. We achieve good agreement with existing observations and elaborate new benchmarks for future research.
first_indexed 2024-12-10T17:51:00Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0bdd671590ce4c05b2758e5b43004a7e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2158-3226
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-10T17:51:00Z
publishDate 2019-07-01
publisher AIP Publishing LLC
record_format Article
series AIP Advances
spelling doaj.art-0bdd671590ce4c05b2758e5b43004a7e2022-12-22T01:39:04ZengAIP Publishing LLCAIP Advances2158-32262019-07-0197075012075012-910.1063/1.5116870041907ADVOn the Rayleigh-Taylor unstable dynamics of three-dimensional interfacial coherent structures with time-dependent accelerationDesmond L. Hill0Snezhana I. Abarzhi1University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaUniversity of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaRayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) occurs in a range of natural and industrial processes. Whereas the majority of existing studies have considered constant acceleration, RTI is in many instances driven by variable acceleration. Here we focus on RTI driven by acceleration with a power-law time-dependence, and, by applying a group theoretic method, find solutions to this classical nonlinear boundary value problem. We deduce that the dynamics is dominated by the acceleration and that the solutions depend critically on the acceleration parameters for values of the acceleration exponent greater than (-2). We find that in the early-time dynamics, the RTI growth-rate is defined by modified Bessel functions. For the late-time dynamics, we link the interface dynamics with an interfacial shear function, find a continuous family of regular asymptotic solutions and identify invariant properties of nonlinear RTI. The essentially interfacial and multi-scale character of the dynamics is also demonstrated. The velocity field is potential in the bulk, and vortical structures may appear at the interface due to interfacial shear. The multi-scale character becomes clear from the invariance properties of the dynamics. We achieve good agreement with existing observations and elaborate new benchmarks for future research.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5116870
spellingShingle Desmond L. Hill
Snezhana I. Abarzhi
On the Rayleigh-Taylor unstable dynamics of three-dimensional interfacial coherent structures with time-dependent acceleration
AIP Advances
title On the Rayleigh-Taylor unstable dynamics of three-dimensional interfacial coherent structures with time-dependent acceleration
title_full On the Rayleigh-Taylor unstable dynamics of three-dimensional interfacial coherent structures with time-dependent acceleration
title_fullStr On the Rayleigh-Taylor unstable dynamics of three-dimensional interfacial coherent structures with time-dependent acceleration
title_full_unstemmed On the Rayleigh-Taylor unstable dynamics of three-dimensional interfacial coherent structures with time-dependent acceleration
title_short On the Rayleigh-Taylor unstable dynamics of three-dimensional interfacial coherent structures with time-dependent acceleration
title_sort on the rayleigh taylor unstable dynamics of three dimensional interfacial coherent structures with time dependent acceleration
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5116870
work_keys_str_mv AT desmondlhill ontherayleightaylorunstabledynamicsofthreedimensionalinterfacialcoherentstructureswithtimedependentacceleration
AT snezhanaiabarzhi ontherayleightaylorunstabledynamicsofthreedimensionalinterfacialcoherentstructureswithtimedependentacceleration