Work

Numerical Simulation of Shock Wave Propagation Through Multiple Raindrops

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: A numerical study of shock wave propagation through multiple raindrops is presented using a density-based compressible two-phase flow solver coupled with a sharp-interface volume-of-fluid (VoF) method. The piecewise linear interface calculation (PLIC) approach is employed to reconstruct gas–liquid interfaces and capture droplet deformation during shock interaction. The numerical framework is first validated using a one-dimensional gas–liquid shock tube problem and a shock–helium bubble interaction benchmark. The method is then applied to investigate shock interactions with single, double, and multiple raindrops under compressible flow conditions. Numerical results show that complex wave structures, including shock reflection, diffraction, and wave interference, develop during shock propagation through raindrop fields. Interactions between neighboring droplets lead to local pressure amplification and non-uniform flow structures.

Source: Fluids

DOI: 10.3390/fluids11060152

Authors: Lingquan Li, Jianglan Li, Zhouteng Ye, Jia Yan, Linchuan Tian, Xiaoquan Yang

Institutions: Shanghai University, Beihang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Language: English

Topic: Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer

Subfield: Computational Mechanics

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,172

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China