Numerical analysis of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability in an electric field

Abstract

A numerical analysis is presented of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI) in the presence of an external electric field, with an emphasis on nonlinear phenomena associated with the evolution of complex interfacial morphology. The Poisson equation for the electric field and the Navier–Stokes equation for fluid flow field are solved simultaneously along with the Cahn–Hilliard phase field equation for interface deformation and morphology development. Numerical model is validated against the existing data and the results of linear analysis. Extensive numerical simulations are carried out for a wide range of fluid flow and electric field conditions. Computed results show that, in both linear and nonlinear regimes, a horizontal field suppresses the RTI, while a vertical electric field aggravates it. However, the vertical field does not affect the secondary instability; specifically, it does not contribute to the baroclinical generation of vorticity and consequently does not affect the roll-up formation. Linear analysis predicts that the RTI remains the same with the interchange of the dielectric constants of the two fluids, which is also confirmed by the numerical model for small interface deformations. This prediction, however, does not hold true in the nonlinear regimes in that complex interfacial morphology may evolve quite differently if the dielectric constants of two fluids are interchanged.