On the long time simulation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability

Abstract

We investigate the classical Rayleigh-Taylor instability with a phase-field method. Despite of the long history of numerical simulations for the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, almost all results were relatively short time experiments. This is partly because of the way of treating the pressure boundary conditions. We implement a time-dependent pressure boundary condition through a time-dependent density field at the boundary. Owing to the pressure boundary treatment, we can perform long time evolutions resulting in an equilibrium state. In addition to the bubble and spike fronts, we have found that the width of sides is another important landmark on the interface of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.