Centerline Mach number characteristics of highly heated free jets
This paper describes a detailed experimental study of Mach number centerline characteristics of highly heated free jets. The jet characteristics were obtained at a range of jet Mach numbers from 0.1 to 0.9 and jet total temperatures up to 900 K. The results show that a strong correlation exists between nozzle-exit boundary-layer conditions and free-jet development. It is clear from this investigation that experimental data on free-jet development cannot be meaningfully compared from one facility to another without specific knowledge of nozzle exit conditions. It was concluded that direct effect of the jet operating conditions (elevated flow temperature) on free jet development is much less important than the indirect effect of changed nozzle-exit boundary-layer characteristics.