Calculations of self-excited impinging jet flow

This paper presents numerical calculations of the self-excited oscillations of an incompressible planar jet impinging upon a wedge for a Reynolds-number range of 250–650. For this Reynolds-number range these flows are experimentally observed to be two-dimensional and laminar. A finite-difference vorticity/stream-function formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations is employed. The self-sustained flow oscillations result in not just one but several well-defined flow frequency components due to nonlinear interaction of two primary components: the most unstable frequency (β) of the jet shear layer and a low-frequency modulating component ($\frac{1}{3}\beta $). The modulating component results from vortex-vortex interaction at the impingement edge of both like and counter-rotating vortices. Although the interaction pattern varies through the Reynolds-number range studied, the pattern adjusts itself to maintain the modulating component $\frac{1}{3}\beta $ which has a strong upstream influence. The numerical results, in agreement with experimental results, strongly suggest the occurrence of such phenomena as frequency jumps and hysteresis. Pressure at the wedge surface has been calculated and compared with experimental results. Numerical results for wedge torque and lift, which have not been experimentally measured, have also been obtained.