Asymmetric instability of a viscous liquid jet

The spatial instability of a viscid liquid jet issued into an inviscid surrounding gas medium is considered. The numerical solution of the governing equations is used to study the evolution of axisymmetrical and asymmetrical disturbances. It is found that asymmetrical disturbances may become dominant at high Weber number. Increasing gas to liquid density ratio and/or decreasing Ohnesorge number enhances the dominance of asymmetrical disturbances. A high gas to liquid density ratio is sufficient to sustain the prevalence of asymmetrical disturbances at moderate values of Weber number. (C) 1997 Academic Press.