Response of a chemically reacting layer to streamwise vorticity

A series of Direct Numerical Simulations of a temporally evolving shear layer subject to both harmonic (2D) and streamwise (3D) forcing were performed. The interaction and coupling of these various 2D and 3D modes is shown to significantly alter the development of the flow. The scale of the 3D modes is quite important to the coupling process with greatly enhanced mixing and product formation resulting from 3D modes that are rapidly amplified by the spanwise vorticity. In general, the longer wavelength 3D modes are found to be highly efficient at increasing the momentum transport while the shorter wavelengths increase mass transport.