Experimental study on Richtmyer-Meshkov instability at multi-layered fluid interfaces with a vertical shock tube

The Richtmyer-Meshkov instability phenomena at air-silicone oil-water and air-alcohol-water interfaces were experimentally studied in a vertical shock tube.Using helium gas as the driver gas,the impact shock waves with Mach numbers of 1.50,1.85 and 2.25were used.The measurements on the bubble depth,spike height and mixing zone width reveal the complex flow nature in RM instability.It involves both linear and non-linear processes according to Mach number and time,namely,hi ∝t or hi ∝ tθi,but θi 1.The influence of the thickness of the silicon oil on the development of RM instability was also examined.