Positively buoyant jets: Semiturbulent to fully turbulent regimes

Abstract

Using a high-speed camera, laser imaging and ultrasound velocimetry, we study positively buoyant miscible jets. Based on the appearance of the laminar length, we classify the flow into fully turbulent and semi-turbulent regimes. We quantify the regime transition boundaries and propose empirical correlations to predict the laminar length. To have a global view of the flow, we also analyze the quasi-steady jet characteristics (jet radius, spread angle, virtual origin, velocity profiles and energy dissipation) and starting jet characteristics (penetration length and tip velocity).