Characteristics of two adjacent rectangular jets

Rectangular supersonic (Design Mach number 1.8), single and twin free jets were tested in a Mach number range of 1.2 to 2.4. The objective was to study the interaction between the jets and the effect of the interaction on the spreading rate of the jets. Nozzle spacing in the range of one to four equivalent exit diameters, and jet Mach number were the parameters investigated. The experimental techniques used were Schlieren visualization and direct mixing (gas sampling) measurements from which jet spreading can be readily obtained. At the design Mach number of the nozzles and above the twin jets interact but the interaction does not affect the spreading rate of the jets. At lower Mach numbers, a moderate increase in the twin jets' spread compared to the single jet's spread was observed. The greater increase was observed for nozzle spacing of two equivalent exit diameters. Similar conclusions are drawn from both visualization and direct mixing results.