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Modelling external particle jet formation in explosive granular dispersal systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2025

Yifeng He Open the ORCID record for Yifeng He [Opens in a new window] ,
Junsheng Zeng ,
Baolin Tian  and
Yue Yang Open the ORCID record for Yue Yang [Opens in a new window]
Yifeng He
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, School of Mechanics and Engineering Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China HEDPS-CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
Junsheng Zeng
Affiliation:
School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, PR China Shanghai Zhangjiang Institute of Mathematics, Shanghai, PR China
Baolin Tian*
Affiliation:
School of Aeronautic Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, PR China Shanghai Zhangjiang Institute of Mathematics, Shanghai, PR China
Yue Yang*
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, School of Mechanics and Engineering Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China HEDPS-CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
*
Corresponding authors: Yue Yang, yyg@pku.edu.cn; Baolin Tian, tianbaolin@buaa.edu.cn
Corresponding authors: Yue Yang, yyg@pku.edu.cn; Baolin Tian, tianbaolin@buaa.edu.cn
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Abstract

We investigate the evolution of an external particle jet in a dense particle bed subjected to a radially divergent air-blast. Both random and single-mode perturbations are considered. By analysing the particle dynamics, we show that the Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI), the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) and large particle inertia contribute to the formation of the external jet. The external particle jet exhibits a spike-like structure at its top and a bubble-like structure near its bottom. As the expanding particle bed lowers the internal gas pressure, particles near the bubble experience strong inward coupling forces and undergo RTI with variable acceleration. Meanwhile, particles in the spike experience weak gas–particle coupling and collision forces due to large particle inertia and low particle volume fraction, respectively. Consequently, the particles in the spike retain a nearly constant velocity, in contrast to the accelerating spikes observed in cylindrical RTI. To investigate the contributions of RMI to the particle jet growth, we track the trough-near particles in the single-mode perturbation case. It is revealed that the trough-near particles accelerate under the perturbation-induced pressure gradient, overtaking the crest-near particles and inducing phase inversion, thereby resulting in an increase in jet length. We establish a linear-growth model for the jet length increment, similar to the planar Richtmyer–Meshkov impulsive model. Combined with the jet-length-increment model, we propose an external-particle-jet-length model that is consistent with both numerical and experimental results for diverse initial gas pocket central pressures and particle bed thicknesses.

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Compressible Flows: Shock waves

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JFM Papers
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Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1024 , 10 December 2025 , A5
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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