Effects of a periodic disturbance on structure and mixing in turbulent shear layers and wakes

Large scale structure and mixing processes are investigated in chemically reacting wakes and shear layers to which a periodic disturbance is applied. The experiments employ a diffusion-limited acid-base reaction to directly measure the extent of mixing. Optical diagnostics used include laser absorption and laser induced fluorescence. Absorption of laser light by reacted product provides a measure of cross-stream average product. Fluorescence was measured by a self-scanning linear photodiode array using high speed computer data acquisition to obtain the product distribution across the layer. Previous results showing that forcing alters the structure and growth rate of shear layers are confirmed. Forcing artificially extends the lifetime of vortices whose size is consistent with the disturbance wavelength. Amalgamation of smaller vortices is enhanced over that in the natural layer until the frequency locked scale is achieved. At high Reynolds numbers, on the other hand, there is an increase in product when forced. In one case a five fold increase in product was observed. The differences are related to the different effects of forcing on entrainment, composition ratio and secondary structure.