Study of the vortex structure of a subsonic jet in an axisymmetric transonic nozzle

The jet interaction flow field generated by a subsonic circular jet exhausting into a transonic cross-flow over a convergent–divergent nozzle is investigated using numerical simulations. The simulations use the three-dimensional large eddy simulation and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations coupled with the standard k-ε turbulence model. The numerical method is verified via cold-flow and schlieren experiments. The vortex structures are identified via the Liutex–Omega method, and the flow details of various pressure ratios and injection angles are studied. The numerical results capture the main vortex structures of a jet in cross-flow, such as the trailing upper vortex and trailing major vortex. The trailing top vortex, which is difficult to capture, and a new vortex structure, named the longitudinal shear vortex, are both observed when the momentum flux is sufficiently large. This study identifies the longitudinal shear vortex for restricted flow, which to some extent facilitates the mixing of the cross-flow and the jet. The results presented in this paper indicate that the vortex structure distribution of a subsonic jet and transonic cross-flow in the restricted region can be optimized. The main vortex structures are analyzed in detail.