Reynolds-Averaged Navier--Stokes Model Predictions of Self-Similar Richtmyer--Meshkov Instability-Induced Mixing

A high-order, multicomponent, weighted essentially nonoscillatory implementation of a two-equation $K$-$\epsilon$ Reynolds-averaged Navier--Stokes model is used to simulate reshocked Richtmyer--Meshkov turbulent mixing at various Atwood numbers. The predicted mixing layer evolution is compared with analytical, late-time self-similar solutions of the transport equations. The terms in the transport equation budgets are compared in detail to self-similar profiles across the mixing layer. Additionally, the sensitivity of the turbulence model solutions to variations in the initial conditions and in the model coefficients is explored.