Model validation image data for breakup of a liquid jet in crossflow: part I

We have applied three different imaging diagnostics: particle imaging velocimetry, high-speed shadowgraphy, and ballistic imaging, to observe the breakup of a liquid jet in a crossflow of air under a variety of conditions. The experimental system was designed to provide well-controlled conditions with minimal amounts of turbulence in the liquid jet and the gaseous crossflow. A variety of Weber numbers and momentum flux ratios were studied in order to provide a sizable data set for the validation of computational models. This paper briefly describes the three spray imaging techniques, outlines the results obtained to-date, and tabulates image statistics for each of ten spray conditions at varying distances from the spray nozzle orifice. The end result is a first installment in what will become a comprehensive model validation data set for jets in crossflow for use by computational fluid dynamics modelers.