Velocity measurements in a precessing jet flow using a three dimensional LDA system

The turbulent, three dimensional and time dependent flow field of a precessing jet is investigated. In the present case the jet precession is generated by mechanically rotating a round jet inclined relative to the axis of rotation. A conditional flow visualisation technique is used to complement three dimensional laser Doppler velocity data, time-averaged and phase-averaged at the frequency of precession. The conditional phase-averaging technique enables phase-averaged velocity contours and vectors to be obtained which reveal flow patterns and structures within the flow field. Time-averaging of the velocity data shows that these structures are significant in that they generate a reverse flow (recirculation) region between the jet and its spinning axis. They are found also to cause a rapid decay of the mean velocity. The characteristics of the precessing jet found here are compared with previous investigations of the same flow and with investigations of other turbulent jets.