Linear analysis of Atwood number effects on shear instability in the elastic–plastic solids

The evolution of shear instability between elastic–plastic solid and ideal fluid which is concerned in oblique impact is studied by developing an approximate linear theoretical model. With the velocities expressed by the velocity potentials from the incompressible and irrotational continuity equations and the pressures obtained by integrating momentum equations with arbitrary densities, the motion equations of the interface amplitude are deduced by considering the continuity of normal velocities and the force equilibrium with the perfectly elastic–plastic properties of solid at interface. The completely analytical formulas of the growth rate and the amplitude evolution are achieved by solving the motion equations. Consistent results are performed by the model and 2D Lagrange simulations. The characteristics of the amplitude development and Atwood number effects on the growth are discussed. The growth of the amplitude is suppressed by elastic–plastic properties of solids in purely elastic stage or after elastic–plastic transition, and the amplitude oscillates if the interface is stable. The system varies from stable to unstable state as Atwood number decreasing. For large Atwood number, elastic–plastic properties play a dominant role on the interface evolution which may influence the formation of the wavy morphology of the interface while metallic plates are suffering obliquely impact.