Flow and acoustic characteristics of non-axisymmetric jets at subsonic conditions

Abstract

Flow and acoustic behavior of two asymmetric, rectangular (AR = 4) and elliptic (AR = 2.5), jets are studied and compared to an equivalent area round jet. The jets are operated at a Mach number of 0.9 and temperature ratio of 1. Time-averaged flow field measurements are carried out using planar and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry. In addition, far-field microphone measurements are performed to compare jet acoustics. Mean flow field results demonstrate that for the given Mach number and aspect ratios, rectangular and elliptic jet properties are somewhat modified compared to the round jet. The elliptic jet exhibits properties that are intermediate between two geometric extremes. Moderately enhanced mixing in asymmetric jets as a result of weak streamwise vortices is evidenced by overall shorter potential core, faster centerline velocity decay, and higher shear layer growth rates. Centerline turbulence levels and transverse shear stress distribution also show enhanced fluctuations for non-circular jets. Compared to their major axis planes, relatively higher turbulence levels are measured in the minor axis planes for both rectangular and elliptic jets. Far-field acoustic measurements reveal the asymmetric nature of the sound field. Compared to the round jet, major axis orientation for asymmetric jets is observed to provide moderate acoustic benefit in the downstream direction. However, enhanced fluctuations in the minor axis plane result in a marginal noise augmentation at moderate to high frequencies in this plane for downstream polar angles.