Dynamics of single and twin circular jets in cross flow

2D-PIV is used to investigate the near field jet dynamics of a single and a tandem twin jet in cross flow at a blowing ratio of 3. The flow characteristics that were studied included jet trajectory and penetration, windward and leeward jet spread, and the size, location and magnitude of the reverse flow region. The tandem jet setup resulted in configuration where the rear jet was shielded by the front jet that allowed the rear jet to penetrate deeper into the cross stream. The penetration of front jet was found to be comparable to that of the single jet in the near field. Asymmetric jet spread was observed both in the windward and leeward side with higher jet spread in the leeward side for both the single and tandem jet configuration. Furthermore, for the tandem jet condition, the presence of rear jet was found to affect the windward spread of the front jet minimally. The windward and leeward spreads of the rear jet were observed to be decreased by the presence of the front jet. Reverse flow zones confined between the front and rear jets in tandem setup was also observed to be stronger than that of a single jet. A turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) analysis indicates that the behavior of a jet in tandem setup follows the same trend as that of an axisymmetric turbulent jet with low turbulence in the jet core and higher turbulence in the jet shear layer that subsequently transitions to high turbulence production in the jet core as the jet shear layers on windward and leeward side of the jet coalesce.