F.X. Keller
CORIA, CNRS, URA 230, Mt-St-Aignan, France
J. Li
Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
ariane vallet
Irstea
D. Vandromme
CORIA, CNRS, URA 230, Mt-St-Aignan, France
Stephane Zaleski
Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut Jean le Rond dÁlembert, UMR 7190, F-75005, Paris, France
Numerical studies of the breakup of sheared liquid−gas interfaces subject to the Kelvin−Helmholtz instability are described. The incompressible Navier−Stokes equations are solved on a Marker And Cell (MAC) staggered finite-difference grid together with a projection algorithm for the pressure. For the kinematics of the interface a second order scheme is used. Surface tension is modeled by a scheme that conserves momentum exactly in the discretized equations. This enables to follow droplet formation and ejection away from the liquid layer. Droplet ejection occurs at much higher Weber and Reynolds numbers than predicted by linear theory. The precise mechanism involves formation and detachment of a boundary layer.