Thermal convection with a freely moving top boundary

Jin Qiang Zhong, Jun Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In thermal convection, coherent flow structures emerge at high Rayleigh numbers as a result of intrinsic hydrodynamic instability and self-organization. They range from small-scale thermal plumes that are produced near both the top and the bottom boundaries to large-scale circulations across the entire convective volume. These flow structures exert viscous forces upon any boundary. Such forces will affect a boundary which is free to deform or change position. In our experiment, we study the dynamics of a free boundary that floats on the upper surface of a convective fluid. This seemingly passive boundary is subjected solely to viscous stress underneath. However, the boundary thermally insulates the fluid, modifying the bulk flow. As a consequence, the interaction between the free boundary and the convective flow results in a regular oscillation. We report here some aspects of the fluid dynamics and discuss possible links between our experiment and continental drift.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number115105
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalPhysics of Fluids
Volume17
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computational Mechanics
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes

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