Multifrequency excited jets

Abstract

An analysis of nonlinear wave-wave interactions in turbulent jets based on the integrated energy of each scale of motion in a cross section of the jet shows that two frequency components in the axisymmetric mode can interact with other mackground frequencies in that mode, thereby amplifying many other frequencies. The present computations produce several features consistent with experimental observations on two-frequency excitation, such as the dependence of the interaction on the initial phase differences between the waves, the enhancement of the momentum thickness under multifrequency forcing, and the increase in background turbulence under forcing. Mixing enhancement is found to be due to turbulence enhancement, rather than the simple amplification of forced-wave components.