Similitude of Air Entrainment at Vertical Circular Plunging Jets

Air bubble entrainment at plunging jet takes place when the jet impact velocity exceeds a critical velocity function of the inflow conditions. This study investigates scale effects affecting air entrainment and bubble dispersion at vertical circular plunging jets. Three scale models were used and detailed air-water measurements were performed systematically for identical Froude numbers. The results highlight significant scale effects when We₁ < 1E+3 or V₁/u_r < 10. Bubble chord times were also measured and presented in terms of pseudo-bubble chord length which was found to overestimate real bubble chords by 10 to 30%. The data show pseudo-bubble chord sizes ranging from less than 0.5 mm to more than 10 mm. The average pseudo-chord sizes were between 5 and 7 mm.