Tab Aspect Ratio Effect on Supersonic Jet Mixing

The efficacy of introducing mixing promoting small-scale vortices by two rectangular tabs, of aspect ratio 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0, placed at diametrically opposite locations at the exit of a Mach 1.73 convergent-divergent circular nozzle has been experimentally investigated, for NPRs from 4 to 8, covering overexpanded, correctly expanded and underexpanded states of the jet. The area blockage due to the each tab was 2.5% of the nozzle exit area. Keeping the blockage constant, the aspect ratio (defined as the ratio of length to width of the tab) was varied. A maximum core length reduction of 84.6% was caused by the tabs of aspect ratio 1.0, at underexpanded conditions corresponding to NPR (nozzle pressure ratio) 6. At this NPR, tabs of aspect ratio 1.5 and 2.0 caused core length reduction of 76.9% and 61.5%, respectively. The mixing promoting efficiency of aspect ratio 1.0 is found to be better than 1.5 and 2.0, at all NPRs of the present study, except NPR 5. The shadowgraph pictures of the uncontrolled and controlled jets clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the tabs in weakening the waves in the jet core.