Divergence from self-similarity in turbulent swirling axisymmetric wakes (Q1317800)

Flow in the steady swirling axisymmetric wakes has been described by means of the Reynolds equations under the assumption that the imbalance of forces is compensated by some external forces. Two series of calculations have been carried out. In the first, the parameter describing momentum imbalance of the wake has been varied, whereas in the second one the variations of the background turbulent energy and dissipation have been considered. It has been found that the momentum imbalance has almost no effect on the decay of the circumferential component of the average velocity and on the decay of the turbulent energy or the increase in the thickness of the wake. Further, the parametric investigation reveals that the longitudinal velocity defect is highly sensitive to the initial momentum imbalance. However, neither the circumferential velocity component nor the turbulent energy nor the increase in the thickness of the wave depend on the momentum imbalance to any significant extent. Further, the need for the modification of existing models of turbulence for the explanation of some data known from literature has been emphasized.