The Nonlinear Behavior of Interface between Two-Phase Shear Flow with Large Density Ratios

The Navier-Stokes equations for the two-dimensional incompressible flow are used to investigate the effects of the Reynolds number and the Weber number on the behavior of interface between liquid-gas shear flow. In the present study, the density ratios are fixed at approximately 100–103. The interface between the two phases is resolved using the level-set approach. The Reynolds number and the Weber number, based on the gas, are selected as 400–10000 and 40–5000, respectively. In the past, simulations reappeared the amplitude of interface growth predicted by viscous Orr-Sommerfeld linear theory, verifying the applicability and accuracy of the numerical method over a wide range of density and viscosity ratios; now, the simulations show that the nonlinear development of ligament elongated structures and resulted in the subsequent breakup of the heavier fluid into drops.