Richtmyer-Meshkov instability of shocked gaseous interfaces

The instability of shocked and reshocked perturbed interface between gases of different densities is analyzed by comparing flow visualization from 2-D and 3-D shock tube experiments with 2-D numerical simulations and theory. The shadowgraphs and calculations show similar large scales of mixing by fluid interpenetration induced by the Richtmyer-Meshkhov instability. In 2-D, experimental instability growth following acceleration by the initial shock is less than calculated by linear theory or simulated. The 3-D experiments are approximately simulated by 2-D calculations with an increased initial amplitude of the interface. The kinetic energy of the interpenetrating velocity field from the simulations are also compared to a theoretical estimate derived from the linear theory.