Characteristics of Supercritical Transitional Mixing Layers

This report describes a study of threedimensional, temporal mixing layers between different fluids initially flowing at different velocities under supercritical conditions. The study involved direct numerical simulations by use of a validated mathematical model of high-pressurefluid behavior that has been described in a number of prior NASA Tech Briefs articles. In some cases, the fluids were heptane and nitrogen; in other cases, they were hydrogen and oxygen. In all these simulations, the mixing layers underwent transition to turbulence.