An experimental examination of an impulsively started incompressible turbulent jet

The transient morphology and entrained fluid distribution of an impulsively started turbulent jet are studied in an experiment that examines a jet of dyed water injected into a large water reservoir. The images obtained, using a video recorder, are processed to determine the time-dependent length, tip velocity, and volume of the jet. Abel inversion is used in conjunction with digital images to examine the transient distribution of the ambient fluid entrained into the jet. Results from the analysis also describe the self-similarity of the jet’s flow and entrainment.