AbstractAn analysis of axisymmetric free jet impingement on to finite disks was performed using the finite element method. The method employed the velocity potential as the dependent variable and six‐node triangle elements to represent the region of flow. The analysis was divided into three parts corresponding to three distinct regions of the flow: (1) In the disk region, the free jet impinged on to a finite disk which was oriented normal to the flow. The jet was subjected to zero or normal gravity and to surface tension effects of varying degrees. (2) Upon leaving the disk region, the jet entered the plume region where it was acted upon internally by surface tension and externally by zero or normal gravity. (3) In the collision region, the flow from the plume region collided symmetrically at some downstream area about the axis of symmetry. The major result achieved from this investigation was the development of techniques to locate the free surface in all three regions for a range of conditions. The velocity profiles along selected lines of constant values of the potential were determined, and a successful comparison was made between the numerical results and existing experimental dat