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Reynolds number effect on the flow statistics and turbulent–non-turbulent interface of a planar jet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2025

Giovanni Soligo Open the ORCID record for Giovanni Soligo [Opens in a new window] ,
Alessandro Chiarini Open the ORCID record for Alessandro Chiarini [Opens in a new window]  and
Marco Edoardo Rosti Open the ORCID record for Marco Edoardo Rosti [Opens in a new window]
Giovanni Soligo*
Affiliation:
Complex Fluids and Flows Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Graduate University, Tancha 1919-1, Onna 904-0495, Okinawa, Japan
Alessandro Chiarini*
Affiliation:
Complex Fluids and Flows Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Graduate University, Tancha 1919-1, Onna 904-0495, Okinawa, Japan Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Aerospaziali, Politecnico di Milano, via La Masa 34, 20156 Milano, Italy
Marco Edoardo Rosti*
Affiliation:
Complex Fluids and Flows Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Graduate University, Tancha 1919-1, Onna 904-0495, Okinawa, Japan
*
Corresponding authors: Marco Edoardo Rosti, marco.rosti@oist.jp; Giovanni Soligo, soligo.giovanni@oist.jp; Alessandro Chiarini, alessandro.chiarini@polimi.it
Corresponding authors: Marco Edoardo Rosti, marco.rosti@oist.jp; Giovanni Soligo, soligo.giovanni@oist.jp; Alessandro Chiarini, alessandro.chiarini@polimi.it
Corresponding authors: Marco Edoardo Rosti, marco.rosti@oist.jp; Giovanni Soligo, soligo.giovanni@oist.jp; Alessandro Chiarini, alessandro.chiarini@polimi.it
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Abstract

We investigate the influence of the Reynolds number on the spatial development of an incompressible planar jet. The study relies on direct numerical simulations (DNS) at inlet Reynolds numbers between $500 \leqslant Re \leqslant 13\,500$, being the widest range and the largest values considered so far in DNS. At the lowest $Re$, the flow is transitional and characterised by large quasi-two-dimensional vortices; at the largest $Re$, the flow reaches a fully turbulent regime with a well-developed self-similar region. We provide a complete description of the flow, from the instabilities in the laminar near-inlet region, to the self-similar regime in the turbulent far field. At the inlet, the leading destabilisation mode is sinusoidal/asymmetric at low Reynolds number and varicose/symmetric at large Reynolds number, with both modes coexisting at intermediate $Re$. In the far field, the mean and fluctuating statistics converge to self-similar profiles only for $Re\geqslant 4500$; the flow anisotropy, the budget of the Reynolds stresses and the energy spectra are addressed. The spreading of the jet is quantified via the turbulent–non-turbulent interface (TNTI). We find that the thickness of the turbulent region, and the shape and fractal dimension of the TNTI become $Re$-independent for $Re \geqslant 4500$. Comparisons with previous numerical and experimental works are provided whenever available.

JFM classification

Turbulent Flows: Turbulent Flows Turbulent Flows: Turbulence simulation

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JFM Papers
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Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1016 , 10 August 2025 , A37
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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