Two parallel streams of air

PHYSICS · Subjective · Fermi University Physics · Fluids & Continuum Physics · Viscous flow and dynamical similarity · Viscous flow and dynamical similarity

Fluid Dynamics, Ch Separation, wakes, jets and free shear flows

Problem

Two parallel streams of air, at U1=8.0 m s−1U_1 = 8.0\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}} and U2=3.0 m s−1U_2 = 3.0\,\mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}, meet at the trailing edge of a thin splitter plate and form a mixing layer. Using the mean speed U=(U1+U2)/2U = (U_1+U_2)/2 and the laminar growth estimate δ∼νx/U\delta \sim \sqrt{\nu x/U} (air: ν=1.51×10−5 m2 s−1\nu = 1.51\times10^{-5}\,\mathrm{m^2\,s^{-1}}), estimate the thickness of the mixing layer x=0.50 mx = 0.50\,\mathrm{m} downstream of the plate, assuming the layer remains laminar there.

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