Computational Evaluation of Shock Wave Interaction with a Cylindrical Water Column

Viola Rossano,Giuliano De Stefano

doi:10.3390/app11114934

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics was employed to predict the early stages of the aerodynamic breakup of a cylindrical water column, due to the impact of a traveling plane shock wave. The unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes approach was used to simulate the mean turbulent flow in a virtual shock tube device. The compressible flow governing equations were solved by means of a finite volume-based numerical method, where the volume of fluid technique was employed to track the air–water interface on the fixed numerical mesh. The present computational modeling approach for industrial gas dynamics applications was verified by making a comparison with reference experimental and numerical results for the same flow configuration. The engineering analysis of the shock–column interaction was performed in the shear-stripping regime, where an acceptably accurate prediction of the interface deformation was achieved. Both column flattening and sheet shearing at the column equator were correctly reproduced, along with the water body drift.

Highlights

The aerodynamic breakup process of liquid droplets induced by the interaction with plane shock waves is of crucial importance for many industrial gas dynamics applications
The robustness of the present computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model and the accuracy of the transient numerical solution of the shock tube problem were assessed through comparison with the analytical discontinuous solution [19]
The resolved flow was illustrated by looking at the profiles across the shock tube of some flow field variables at the moment, say t = t0, when the incident shock impacted the column

Summary

Introduction

The aerodynamic breakup process of liquid droplets induced by the interaction with plane shock waves is of crucial importance for many industrial gas dynamics applications. The shock wave interaction with a water droplet represents the initial stage of the breakup process induced by the high-speed gas stream Since this process plays an important role in the droplet breakup, a number of studies have been conducted to investigate the shock/droplet interaction for correctly interpreting the mechanism of aerobreakup. This process has been the subject of several experimental studies employing shock tube devices, wherein a traveling planar shock wave is reproduced, with uniform gaseous flow conditions being established, e.g., [3,4]. The shock front passes over the droplet and causes its deformation and successive breakup

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