The large-scale coherent structure in the intermittent region of the self-preserving round free jet

Abstract

Large-scale coherent structure in a round free jet injected into a low-speed, co-flowing stream was experimentally investigated using laser-Doppler and cold-wire techniques. Particular attention was paid to the coherent structures in the outer intermittent region of the jet in an almost self-preserving state. Velocity fluctuations u (axial) and v (radial) and temperature fluctuations θ were measured simultaneously at two positions: a reference position and a moving position. In order to clarify the pattern of coherent motion, a pattern-averaging technique was adopted and the characteristics of the turbulent fluctuations were conditionally averaged. The results show that a large-scale coherent structure exists even in the self-preserving region of a round free jet, as well as in the near field. It has a vortical structure which consists of strong outward turbulent motion from inside the jet, turbulent reverse flow and inflow in the irrotational ambient region (entrainment). In the coherent structure, the negative pattern-averaged Reynolds stress occurs at two locations: one in the irrotational ambient region outside the turbulent/irrotational interface and the other in the turbulent jet inside the interface. The former is instantaneously produced in the irrotational inflow outside the interface when the vortical motion is accelerated, and it changes even the sign of conventionally averaged Reynolds stress. The latter is instantaneously produced in the turbulent flow near the high-shear region when the turbulent motion is more strongly directed by the acceleration of the vortical motion towards the centre of the vortical structure than the averaged motion.