Effects of surface tension on immiscible Rayleigh-Taylor turbulence
Abstract
We present phenomenology describing the internal structure of a turbulent zone, produced as the result of the push of a heavy fluid into a light one, for the case of immiscible fluids. One finds that the Kolmogorov cascade is realized within a range that grows with time, viz., scales between the mixing zone width, L∝t2 , and the viscous scale, η∝t-1/4 . Surface-tension effects lead to formation of an emulsionlike state. Density fluctuations on scales larger than the typical drop size, l , are governed by the Obukhov-Corrsin cascade. If l≫η , a wave energy cascade, related to capillary waves propagating along the surfaces of drops, is formed at scales below l , l∝t-2/5 .
- Publication:
-
Physical Review E
- Pub Date:
- May 2005
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevE.71.055301
- Bibcode:
- 2005PhRvE..71e5301C
- Keywords:
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- 47.27.Te;
- 47.27.Qb