On similarity solutions for turbulent and heated round jets

Commonly used empirical correlations for incompressible, heated round jets are shown to represent similarity solutions of the governing jet equations. These solutions give rise to self-similar eddy viscosities. Not all the similarity solutions are physically valid because some lead to zero eddy viscosities at the jet centerline. One physically valid solution is found to correlate best with round jet measurements and it gives a Gaussian error function description for the normalized mean velocity and temperature. Heat and momentum fluxes thus calculated are also in good agreement with measurements. Therefore, in addition to the classical similarity solution obtained by assuming constant eddy viscosity, another similarity solution to the jet equations is found where the eddy viscosity is self-similar.