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On the evolution of the mixing layer in rotation-driven Rayleigh–Taylor turbulence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2025

Xin Xu Open the ORCID record for Xin Xu [Opens in a new window] ,
Zhiye Zhao Open the ORCID record for Zhiye Zhao [Opens in a new window] ,
Fenghui Lin Open the ORCID record for Fenghui Lin [Opens in a new window] ,
Pei Wang ,
Nan-Sheng Liu Open the ORCID record for Nan-Sheng Liu [Opens in a new window]  and
Xi-Yun Lu Open the ORCID record for Xi-Yun Lu [Opens in a new window]
Xin Xu
Affiliation:
Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
Zhiye Zhao*
Affiliation:
Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Fenghui Lin
Affiliation:
Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
Pei Wang
Affiliation:
National Key Laboratory of Computational Physics, Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, PR China
Nan-Sheng Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
Xi-Yun Lu
Affiliation:
Department of Modern Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, PR China
*
Corresponding author: Zhiye Zhao, zzy12@ustc.edu.cn
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Abstract

The evolution of the mixing layer in rotation-driven Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) turbulence is investigated theoretically and numerically. It is found that the evolution of the turbulent mixing layer in rotation-driven RT turbulence is self-similar, but the width of the mixing layer does not follow the classical quadratic growth observed in planar RT turbulence induced by constant external acceleration. Based on the approach used in cylindrical RT turbulence without rotation (Zhao et al. 2021, Phys. Rev. E, vol. 104, 055104), a theoretical model is established to predict the growth of mixing widths in rotation-driven RT turbulence, and the model’s excellent agreement with direct numerical simulations (DNS) serves to validate its reliability. The model proposes a rescaled time that allows for the unification of the evolutions of the mixing layers in rotation-driven RT turbulence with various Atwood numbers and rotation numbers. It is further identified that the growth law described by the model of rotation-driven RT turbulence can be recovered to quadratic growth when the effects of geometrical curvature, radial inhomogeneity of the centrifugal force, and Coriolis force become negligible. Moreover, based on the DNS results, we find that turbulent mixing layers in rotation-driven RT turbulence cover a wide range of length scales. The strong rotation at the same Atwood number enhances the generation of fine-scale structures but is not conducive to overall fluid mixing within the mixing layer.

JFM classification

Convection: Buoyancy-driven instability Geophysical and Geological Flows: Rotating flows

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JFM Papers
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Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1018 , 10 September 2025 , A28
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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