On the mixing of a rectangular jet

Hot-wire measurements in an incompressible rectangular jet, issuing into a quiet environment at ambient conditions, are presented. A blow-down-type air supply system was used to provide the airflow to a cylindrical settling chamber 1.75 m in length and 0.6 m in diameter. The measurements were made with constant-temperature anemometers in conjunction with linearizers. The two signals from the linearizers were sent through a sum and difference unit which was calibrated from dc to 100 kHz. The distributions of mean velocity and the turbulence shear stresses were measured in the two central planes of the jet stations up to 115 widths downstream of the nozzle exit. Three distinct regions characterized the jet flow field: a potential core origin, a two-dimensional-type region, and an axisymmetric type region. The onset of the second region appeared to be at a location where the shear layers separated by the short dimension of the nozzle meet; and the third region occurred at a downstream location where the two shear layers from the short edges of the nozzle meet. In the central plane, similarity was found both in the mean velocity and shear stress profiles beyond 30 widths downstream of the nozzle exit; profiles of rms velocity showed similarity in the second, but not the third region.