Designing multi-shape dual-gas initial conditions for the study of hydrodynamic instabilities

Abstract

The flow resulting from the rotation of a series of thin plates that initially separate two gases of different densities is analysed using Direct Numerical Simulations. The ninety-degree plates’ rotation forms a vorticity shear layer and a density interface in between the tips of two neighbouring plates. Results of this study show that the shape of these layers strongly depends on the plate’s tip-based Reynolds number that can be varied thanks to a parametrisation of the plates’ opening law. Different regimes are identified corresponding to single- or multi-mode initial interfaces, with or without the occurrence of starting vortices during the formation of the shear layer. The density interfaces resulting from this procedure are particularly well-suited to serve as initial conditions for the study of the Richtmyer- Meshkov instability-induced mixing. Results of this study also provide a description of vortex formation in stratified flows.