Spreading of buoyant jets and fountains in a calm, linearly density-stratified fluid

Abstract

Round turbulent buoyant jets and fountains issuing vertically into linearly densitystratified calm ambient were investigated experimentally. The terminal (steady state) height of rise and the elevation of horizontal spreading are determined, for positively and negatively buoyant jets at the source level. The experiments confirmed asymptotic analysis based on dimensional arguments. Furthermore, momentum-driven buoyant jets and fountains, reach asymptotically the same terminal height and spreading elevation with respect to the injection point. © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, London.