Effects of controlled vortex generation and interactions in transverse jets

This experimental study examined the effects of controlled vortex generation and interactions created by axisymmetric excitation of a transverse jet, with a focus on the structural and mixing characteristics of the flow. The excitation consisted of a double-pulse forcing waveform applied to the jet, where two distinct temporal square-wave pulses were prescribed during a single forcing period. The two distinct pulses produced vortex rings of different strength and celerity, the strategic selection of which promoted vortex ring interactions or collisions in the near field to varying degrees. Jet flow conditions corresponding to a transitionally convectively and absolutely unstable upstream shear layer (USL) in the absence of forcing, at a jet-to-cross-flow momentum flux ratio of J=10, and to an absolutely unstable USL at J=7, were explored for a jet Reynolds number of 1800. Acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging was utilized to quantify the influence of different prescribed temporal waveforms. All forcing conditions enhanced the spread, penetration, and molecular mixing of the jet as compared to the unforced jet, though to differing degrees. Interestingly, when the jet was convectively unstable, forcing which promoted vortex collisions provided the greatest enhancement in molecular mixing, whereas the absolutely unstable jet produced the greatest enhancement in mixing when the vortex rings did not interact, with important implications for optimized jet control.