On contact instabilities of viscoplastic fluids in two-dimensional setting

The Richtmyer–Meshkov and Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities in viscoplastic (Bingham) fluids are studied in two-dimensional setting. The evolution of the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability in a Bingham fluid is analyzed as compared with its evolution in a Newtonian fluid. The critical amplitude of the initial perturbation in the velocity field is estimated. Numerical results obtained for Richtmyer–Meshkov and Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities in a Bingham fluid are presented and compared with those obtained for a Newtonian fluid.