Progress with Incline-Interface Richtmyer-Meshkov Experiments

We describe our progress with a new experiment to investigate Richtmyer-Meshkov instability performed in the newly built variable inclination shock tube at Texas A{\&}M University. In the case of an inclined interface, the amount of vorticity deposited on the initial interface, can be easily controlled by changing the inclination angle, without changing the Mach (pressure gradient) or Atwood number (density gradient). We can achieve this goal by changing the inclination angle of the shock tube. This provides an easy-to-control, clean and repeatable interface for studying the RMI problem. Results will be presented from our initial experiments for a Mach 1.6 shock wave interaction with nitrogen over carbon-dioxide interface for an inclination angle of 60 degrees. Quantitative results such as the interface mixing width growth rate, and vorticity deposition will be discussed in detail. Numerical simulations of the experiments are performed using the ARES code (LLNL) and the time evolution of the interface width, measured from the experiments, is compared to the corresponding numerical predictions.