Effects of Single Mode Initial Conditions in Rayleigh-Taylor Turbulent Mixing

Abstract

The effect of single mode initial conditions at the interface of Rayleigh-Taylor(RT) mixing are experimentally examined utilizing the low Atwood number water channel facility at Texas A&M. The water channel convects two separated stratified flows and unifies them at the end of a splitter plate. The RT instability is attained by convecting a cold stream above a warmer stream. Average density calculations are based on long time average optical measurements. The water channel was modifified with a flapper fin like device at the end of the splitter plate which was actuated by a computer controlled servo motor. Other modifications to the experiment were implemented resulting in reduced uncertainty. The experiment examined five different modes in addition to the baseline: 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm, and 8 cm wavelengths. The mixing width growth rates were shown to be dependent on initial conditions. Additionally, it appears that the growth rates commence with terminal velocity and are observed to line up with the baseline case.