Numerical simulation of instability development at the contact boundaries in a three-layer gas system: Comparison with experimental data

This paper presents the results of experimental and computational studies of instability development and mixing at the contact boundaries between gases of different densities. It has been shown that instability and mixing at two contact boundaries in a three-layer gas systems occur after a shock wave with a Mach number $\mathrm{M}=1.3$ that forms on the left end and moves along the tube has passed through the contact boundaries. Two experiments were performed, in the first of which the central layer was filled with a heavy gas (SF6 gas), and in the second experiment, it was filled with a light gas (helium). On the left and right of the central layer was air at atmospheric pressure. A comparison of the results was performed.