Validation of the Sharp–Wheeler bubble merger model from experimental and computational data

A statistical model to describe the late time chaotic behavior of a Rayleigh–Taylor unstable interface was introduced by Sharp and Wheeler [Physica D 12, 3 (1984); (private communication)]. Here the focus is on effective computations using this model and the comparison of the model with experiment. The numerical solution of the model shows that the height of the mixing layer, in which the bubbles of the light fluid penetrate the heavy fluid, is in a constant acceleration. This result agrees with the experiments of Read [Physica D 12, 45 (1984)].