Theses and Dissertations

Advisor

Shinde, Vilas

Committee Member

Sescu, Adrian

Committee Member

Khare, Vivek

Date of Degree

5-16-2025

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Aerospace Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

Department of Aerospace Engineering

Abstract

This thesis aims to investigate the impact of nozzle exit geometry on jet flow propagation and turbulence characteristics. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed using ANSYS Fluent, employing the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approach, to compare circular, elliptic, and rectangular nozzle geometries. The analysis focused on velocity distributions, turbulence characteristics, and cross-flow interactions. Results indicate that circular jets have the longest potential core and slowest velocity decay, reflecting lower mixing rates. In contrast, elliptic and rectangular jets have shorter potential cores, faster velocity decay, and elevated TKE peaks, suggesting enhanced turbulence and mixing. These findings highlight the significant role of nozzle geometry in shaping jet behavior, offering insights for designing efficient nozzle systems for specific applications. The study paves the way for future research on the axis-switching phenomena in non-circular jets and the effects of higher aspect ratios on jet flows properties.

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