Experimental observations on transition to turbulence in confined coaxial jets and other boundary layer flows

Experiments performed demonstrate the transition to turbulent flow of water jets discharging coaxially into a stream confined in a round duct. The critical Reynolds number is shown to be a strong function of velocity ratio. From the flow visualization it is shown that a proportionality between the laminar length of the jet (L) and the wavelength (λ) can be seen in the region of transition to turbulence. The proportionality coincides with similar observations concerning the transition to turbulence in various other flows. A brief arguments based on scale analysis is presented for the confined coaxial jet and round plume. The apparent universality of the L/λ approximately 0(10) scaling law supports the conclusion that the laminar sections of all naturally progressing boundary layer-type flows are geometrically similar.

Duke Scholars

Author Adrian Bejan Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...