Summary

Simultaneous two-component laser-Doppler-velocimeter measurements were made in an axisymmetric sudden expansion to measure the flow properties of a confined, isothermal flowfield of a research dump combustor. Measurements of mean velocities, Reynolds stresses, and triple products were carried out at axial distances ranging from 0.38H (H = step height) to 18H downstream of the dump plane. Detailed experimental data are provided to help in understanding the behavior of turbulent transport characteristics of the confined shear layer. Data from this study could be used to upgrade or evaluate advanced numerical codes used to predict complex turbulent flows. The turbulent kinetic energy terms (i.e. convection, diffusion, and production terms) were computed directly from the experimental data using central differences, while the viscous dissipation term was obtained from the energy balance equation. Detailed comparison of the present data with similar work shows that the general behavior of the flow-field and energy budget results are in excellent agreement. The shear-layer flow created by sudden expansion enhances combusto