Near-field pressure radiation and flow characteristics in low supersonic circular and elliptic jets

Abstract

The near-field pressure fluctuations of circular and elliptic underexpanded supersonic jets were studied experimentally. Unlike the case of low subsonic jets, the pressure fluctuation characteristics at the minor axis plane of the elliptic jet were very different from those of the major axis plane. The amplitude of the pressure fluctuations at the minor axis was more than an order of magnitude higher than at the other plane. This section of the jet was also characterized by a larger spreading rate and higher amplification rate of the velocity fluctuations. The circular jet was similar to the major axis plane of the elliptic jet. The spectra of the near-field pressure fluctuations of both jets exhibited the highest peak at a frequency corresponding to the jets’ preferred mode frequency. The spectral peak related to the screech tone was much stronger at the minor axis plane and had the same frequency as at the other plane. The amplitude of the dominant pressure fluctuation frequencies was mapped in the entire near field, and each one was found to be dominant in a different region.