On the mechanics of high speed liquid jets

Both experimental and theoretical methods are used to investigate the mechanics of the emergence and flight of a liquid jet travelling at speeds supersonic relative to the sound speed of the liquid. The experimental work uses an Imacon image converter camera to follow the mechanical events at micro-second framing intervals. The theoretical investigation employs similarity arguments and the Tschaplygin transformation to investigate the role of liquid overcompression in the process of the jet emergence. In addition, simple theoretical arguments are used to examine the effects of Stokes drag on the small liquid particle shroud surrounding the jet and Taylor instability effects in the late time history of the jet’s flight. An evacuated chamber is used to verify the theoretical prediction that subsonic (relative to the liquid sound speed) jets will not undergo the violent decompression process predicted for supersonic jets. The experimental and theoretical evidence are synthesized into an overall picture of the jet’s history from initial decompression of an overdense supersonic jet to the breakup of the resulting liquid slugs by deceleration and Taylor instability.