Theoretical and numerical analysis of density perturbation development induced by high velocity impact

Abstract

The problem of high velocity impact between two solid plates where one of them has a non-uniformly disturbed density field is studied. The nature of an initial perturbation here differs from one considered in the classical Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI). We consider the instability that develops from the initial perturbations of the density field with a flat interface between plates, while RMI is triggered by a shock passing through the corrugated interface. The structure of perturbation fields generated in the plates due to impact and the interface evolution are studied via the analytic linear and nonlinear models for normal modes using the Euler equations for compressible fluids and appropriate boundary conditions. Such analysis reveals three different regimes in which the generated disturbances can develop depending on the direction of the perturbation wave vector. The obtained theoretical findings are in good quantitative agreement with our detailed numerical simulations.