Flow characteristics of unexcited and excited circular wedge shaped jets

Abstract

The flow characteristics of symmetric and asymmetric free air jets in the near field have been studied experimentally. Jets produced by circular parabolic nozzle with different exit and upstream flow conditions were investigated to determine their influence on the flow field. Different exit conditions were obtained by the attachment of exit lengths, vertical flanges, wedge shape sections and by changing the Reynolds number. The upstream flow condition was changed by acoustic excitation of frequency 0 - 300 Hz. Measurements were taken in the Reynolds number range Red = 2 x 104 to 1 x 105. For each case, axial mean velocity and static pressure were measured by the pitot-static tube and axial turbulent intensity by the constant temperature hot-wire anemometer. The mean static pressure within the potential core was positive and that in the mixing region negative. The centerline mean velocity near the exit decreased slightly and corresponding mean static pressure increased and these were suppressed due to the increase of the exit length, Reynolds number and wedge angle. This decay of centerline mean velocity was influenced by upstream excitation and maximum occurred at the preferred mode. In the case of nozzle with exit vertical flange, the centerline mean velocity near the exit increased sharply and corresponding centerline mean static pressure decreased. The pref~rred and suppression mode of excitation were at Std = 0.58 and 1.85 for normal nozzle and those for wedge shaped nozzle 0.31 and 1.8 respectively. :rhe centerline turbulent intensities decreased with the increase of exit vertical flange, length, wedge angle and Reynolds number. And these intensities further decreased at the suppression mode of excitation. On the other hand, at the preferred mode of excitation, the centerline turbulent intensities amplified much more than it's unexcited value. The stream-wise mean velocity profile showed saddle shaped behavior, which moved towards the downstream distance and disappeared at the end of the potential core. Corresponding mean static pressure dropped significantly, but the location of minimum negative pressure did not correspond to that of the maximum peak of mean velocity. The pe~k value of the saddle shaped profile increased due to exit vertical flange and decreased due to the increase of the exit Reynolds number, length and wedge angle. The peak turbulent intensity along the transverse direction was found to be suppressed with the increase of exit vertical flange, length, Reynolds number and wedge angle. With the upstream excitation the turbulent intensity further decreased below it's unexcited value. The increase of nozzle exit length, Reynolds number and the presence of vertical flange were found to increase the potential core. The entrainment rate increased with the increase of Reynolds number but decreased in the presence of exit vertical flange, length and wedge angle. The viscous shear stress decreased and the Reynolds shear stress increased towards the boundary layer. This was due to the continuous transformation of energy from the mean flow field to the generation of turbulence.