Turbulence-Interface Interactions in a Two-Fluid Homogeneous Flow

The two-way interactions between the turbulent velocity field and the interface in an incompressible two-fluid homogeneous turbulent flow are studied with a recently developed Lagrangian–Eulerian interfacial particle level-set method. The numerical results confirm that the rate of change of the interface area is directly related to the work done by the surface tension force. While the surface tension damps the surrounding turbulence in the “interface stretching period” to oppose the increase in interface area, it is shown to actually increase the turbulent kinetic energy when the interface experiences compression. Additionally, the surface tension force is found to generate strong vortical motions close to the interface through the baroclinic torque effects. There is also an increase in strain rate and the viscous dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy in the interface region. The effect of interface on the surrounding turbulence appears primarily in the direction perpendicular to the interface. Analysis of the vorticity and kinetic energy equations indicates that the turbulence-interface interactions are strongly dependent on the fluids’ density ratio and the Weber number.