Turbulent structure of an axisymmetric plume penetrating a strong density stratification

The interaction between a turbulent plume and a strong stratified layer is studied for three experimental configurations with different buoyancy and ambient stratification. The investigation of the turbulent structure of these axisymmetric flows was first carried out under ambient conditions of high constant density at the origin of the flow. The interaction with a stratified environment was then analyzed. The difficulty in penetrating the stratified media was due to a large expansion of the flow and a change of the direction of the radial velocity close to the axis. A decrease of the kinetic turbulent energy was observed at the crossing of the neutral zone.