Understanding instability modes in impinging jets is important for the design of advanced vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Our initial... Show moreUnderstanding instability modes in impinging jets is important for the design of advanced vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Our initial experimental observations of helical modes in subsonic impinging jets were contrary to expectations based on published stability theory results. This paper focuses on the curious phenomenon of the occurrence of these, hitherto unexpected, helical modes in subsonic impinging jets and provides, both experimental and analytical proof for their existence. Past results, based on linear stability analysis, that call for an absence of helical modes in cold, subsonic impinging jets have been re-examined to reconcile new experimental data. Based on this re-examination, a new threshold Mach number has been proposed, above which helical modes are permissible. The revised theory put forth in this paper indicates that the threshold Mach number for the existence of the helical mode depends on the jet temperature and that this threshold decreases as the jet temperature increases. This threshold Mach number has been experimentally verified for unheated jets. Additionally, the experimental results reveal that the threshold Mach number also depends on the stand-off distance. Finally, it has been shown that the experimentally obtained mean Strouhal numbers for the helical mode show excellent agreement with the Strouhal number of the least dispersive wave of the same mode calculated at various Mach numbers. The results presented here offer hope for better understanding of impinging jet instability modes. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2798804 Show less
This work is an experimental study of high subsonic jet impingement tone suppression. We begin by documenting the characteristics of the... Show moreThis work is an experimental study of high subsonic jet impingement tone suppression. We begin by documenting the characteristics of the impingement tone for various Mach numbers and standoff (nozzle exit to ground plate) distances. The results revealed frequency staging and the presence of two types of impingement tones. A novel feature of our work is the use of four miniature high-frequency actuators known as powered resonance tubes that were located circumferentially around the main jet nozzle. The powered resonance tubes were capable of producing high amplitude acoustic excitation over a range of frequencies, up to 17.5 kHz. Our target excitation frequency range was about 3-5 times that of the natural flow instability. Using high-frequency excitation, tonal suppression levels as high as 20 dB and broadband suppression levels as high as 5-10 dB were obtained. The mass addition rate from the powered resonance tubes was of the order of 2% of the mass flow rate from the main jet. Mass flow reductions could be obtained under conditions when the powered resonance tube resonated strongly. Our results suggest that appropriately designed miniature powered resonance tube actuators have potential for use in flow control applications. http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/1.15818 Show less
