Numerical predictions of turbulent underexpanded sonic jets using a pressure-based methodology

Abstract The objective of this work is to model underexpanded turbulent sonic jets. A pressure-based computational fluid dynamics methodology has been employed, incorporating extensions to handle high speed flows. A standard two-equation turbulence model is used, with an optional compressibility correction. Comparison with experimental jet centre-line Mach number showed the correct shock cell wavelength but a too rapid decay. The compressibility correction had no effect on the shock cell decay but increased the potential core length to give better agreement with experiment. Calculations for nozzle pressure ratios up to 30 showed the variation of Mach disc location in good agreement with experiment. For nozzle pressure ratios above 6, unsteady solutions were observed, emanating from the intersection of the Mach disc with the shear layer. Experimental work has identified similar large-scale instabilities; the peak mode of the prediction had a Strouhal number of 0.16, close to experimental values.