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