An experimental study of entraining, stress-driven, stratified flow in an annulus

An experimental study of turbulent, two-layer stratified entrainment in an annular, surface stress driven geometry is described. Density and velocity probes were used to determine interfacial locations and flow patterns. Annular geometry effects were examined using three channel widths. The entire flow system was constructed of clear plastic to facilitate observations. The measurements and observations of these flows over a wide range of Richardson number indicate a strong secondary circulation, radial interfacial tilt, and a dominant dependence of flow parameters on the annular radius. It is concluded that the entrainment results in annuli such as the one used in this study may not be directly applicable to one-dimensional entrainment processes.