MEAN FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF A TURBULENT OFFSET JET

A detailed study of the mean flow characteristics of a turbulent offset jet is presented. The flow is characterized by a longitudinal variation of curvature, skewed impingement onto a flat surface, a recirculating region, and the development of a wall jet region. Flow structure is described in the preimpingement, recirculation and impingement regions. An interdependence is shown among the pressure differential across the jet, jet curvature and entrainment. The magnitude of the curvature strain rate is found to be significant and implies that this flow cannot be accurately modelled as a thin shear layer. The jet decay and spread rates are similar to those of a plane jet if appropriate curved coordinates are used. The extent of the impingement region is approximately 20 nozzle widths downstream, in agreement with previous studies.