Direct numerical simulation of axisymmetric wakes embedded in turbulence

Direct numerical simulation has been used to study the effects of external turbulence on axisymmetric wakes. In the absence of such turbulence, the time-developing axially homogeneous wake is found to have the self-similar properties expected whereas, in the absence of the wake, the turbulence fields had properties similar to Saffman-type turbulence. Merging of the two flows was undertaken for three different levels of external turbulence (relative to the wake strength) and it is shown that the presence of the external turbulence enhances the decay rate of the wake, with the new decay rates increasing with the relative strength of the initial external turbulence. The external turbulence is found to destroy any possibility of self-similarity within the developing wake, causing a significant transformation in the latter as it gradually evolves towards the former.