Growth of large scale structures in two-dimensional mixing layers

A simple analytic model based on experimental data is presented for the growth of large scale structures and the mass inflow into them in two-dimensional incompressible mixing layers. The model draws on the experimental evidence for persistent large scale structures in the nonlinear phase of mixing layer development. The results are compared with previous work and with time dependent numerical simulations of mixing layer development using an array of point vortices. Both the simulations and previous results provide reasonable agreement with the model. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.