Vortex paradigm for shock-accelerated density-stratified interfaces

Abstract

Numerical simulations are reported that capture the observations of Haas and Sturtevant (1985) when a planar shock accelerates an inclined planar interface between two media. A vortex paradigm is presented for interpreting the evolution of shock-accelerated density-stratified interfaces beyond early times. The simulations illustrate the paradigm and are in good agreement with the results of Haas and Sturtevant. Color images of space-time diagrams of the one-space integrated vorticity function are given to show the primary and secondary features of the emerging vortex structures.