Journal article
Effect of counter-propagating shock waves on the aerodynamic breakup of a liquid droplet
International journal of multiphase flow, Vol.198, 105659
04/01/2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2026.105659
Abstract
Shock-droplet interactions are crucial to spray atomization in supersonic combustion and detonation-based propulsion systems. Most previous studies of shock-droplet interactions have considered a single planar shock interacting with a droplet, whereas in practical applications droplets are subject to complex, interacting shock fields. There are few studies of droplet deformation and aerodynamic breakup in the presence of multiple or complex shock structures. Here, using high-resolution direct numerical simulations with a compressible multiphase five-equation based formulation, we study the canonical scenario of the interaction of two counter-propagating shocks with a droplet. Simulations show that in the case of double shocks, the equal and opposite impulses diminish net momentum transfer, suppressing shear-driven breakup and slowing area loss relative to single shock case at the same Mach number (M
). Space-time pressure maps and probe histories reveal a near-periodic sequence of compressions and rarefactions whose period is fixed by the acoustic transit time, while the amplitude increases strongly with M
. The formation of pronounced rarefaction troughs near the droplet center indicates that the local pressure approaches vapor-saturation levels at higher Mach numbers. However, since the present model does not incorporate explicit phase-change or bubble-nucleation closures, no definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding cavitation onset or its role in droplet breakup. The results instead demonstrate that breakup is not governed solely by shock strength, but is strongly influenced by shock symmetry and sequencing, which control the internal pressure field, transient pressure oscillations, and the acoustic focusing within the droplet.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Effect of counter-propagating shock waves on the aerodynamic breakup of a liquid droplet
- Creators
- Mayank Verma - University of IowaH. S. Udaykumar - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International journal of multiphase flow, Vol.198, 105659
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2026.105659
- ISSN
- 0301-9322
- eISSN
- 1879-3533
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Grant note
- AFRL-RW
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/01/2026
- Academic Unit
- Engineering Administration; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering; Injury Prevention Research Center; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9985141986902771
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