Stochastic geometric properties of scalar interfaces in turbulent jets

Abstract

Experiments were conducted in which the behavior of scalar interfaces in turbulent jets was examined, using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) techniques. The experiments were carried out in a high Schmidt number fluid (water), on the jet centerline, over a jet Reynolds number range of 1000<=Re<=24 000. Both two-dimensional scalar data, c(r,t) at fixed x/d, and one-dimensional scalar data, c(t) at fixed x/d and r/x, were analyzed using standard one- and two-dimensional fractal box-counting algorithms. Careful treatment was given to the handling of noise. Both long and short records as well as off-centerline measurements were also investigated. The important effect of threshold upon the results is discussed. No evidence was found of a constant (power-law) fractal dimension over the range of Reynolds numbers studied. On the other hand, the results are consistent with the computed behavior of a simple stochastic model of interface geometry.