A finite-difference analysis of turbulent, axisymmetric, buoyant jets and plumes

A differential approach for analysis of the behavior of turbulent, axisymmetric, buoyant jets and plumes is presented, where the boundary layer form of the governing differential equations, derived in a curvilinear, orthogonal coordinate system, is solved numerically in the physical plane by an explicit finite-difference scheme of the DuFort-Frankel type. The turbulent shear stress and heat flux terms appearing in the governing equations are evaluated using an eddy viscosity model, which is generalized to include important effects such as ambient turbulence and buoyancy on turbulent mixing. The turbulent Prandtl number used to relate the turbulent exchange of heat and momentum is kept constant at 0.7 for all calculations reported.