Experimental Validation of Variable Acceleration Rayleigh-Taylor Instability

Lead Research Organisation: University of Bristol
Department Name: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Abstract

Rayleigh Taylor instability is a fundamental branch of turbulence that considers the development of two fluids of different densities from a separate stable state into a turbulent mixed state. This occurs through an initial agitation and then acceleration of the lighter fluid pushing into the heavier fluid at the surface interface. This proposal operates within the wider aim of characterising molecular mixing in Rayleigh Taylor instabilities and has significance to both natural and engineering contexts. Examples of this include understanding deep-ocean and atmospheric dynamics at the core of climate science and future applications in clean energy production to improve design for fuel mixing within Inertial Confinement Fusion reactors. The underlying purpose of this proposal is to bridge the gap between current simulation methods and the experimental ground-truth of the mixing of two fluids of two different densities. This project seeks to build on recent work undertaken at the University of Bristol and attempts to investigate several interesting avenues of work that would contribute to achieving this aim.

Publications

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Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
EP/Y528687/1 30/09/2023 29/09/2028
2929975 Studentship EP/Y528687/1 30/09/2023 29/09/2027 DANIEL GLINNAN