Vortex structure in rotating Rayleigh-Benard convection
The authors investigate the flow patterns in a cylindrical rotating Rayleigh-Benard convection cell with radius-to-height ratio {Gamma} = 0.5. The Rayleigh number R is 2 x 10{sup 8}, the dimensionless rotation rate {Omega} varies from 10{sup 4} to 5 x 10{sup 4}, and the convective Rossby number Ro is between 2 and 0.4. Measurements of the velocity field in the volume adjacent to the top of the cell are acquired with a scanning particle image velocimetry (PIV) system. The authors present quantitative results for velocity and vorticity of the cyclonic and anticyclonic vortices characterizing the convection, as well as for the dependence of the vortex size on the rotation rate and variation of vorticity with depth.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 561135
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--97-3354; CONF-9705192--; ON: DE98001448
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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