Spiral-pattern formation in Rayleigh-Benard convection

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.47.R2987· OSTI ID:6499738

Xi, H; Gunton, J D ^[1]; Vinals, J ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015 (United States)
2. Supercomputer Computations Research Institute, B-186, and Department of Chemical Engineering, B-203, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4052 (United States)

We present a numerical study of the spontaneous formation of spiral patterns in Rayleigh-Benard convection in non-Boussinesq fluids. We solve a generalized two-dimensional Swift-Hohenberg equation that includes a quadratic nonlinearity and coupling to mean flow. We show that this model predicts in quantitative detail many of the features observed experimentally in studies of Rayleigh-Benard convection in CO[sub 2] gas. In particular, we study the appearance and stability of a rotating spiral state obtained during the transition from an ordered hexagonal state to a roll state.

• DOE Contract Number: FC05-85ER25000
• OSTI ID: 6499738
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States) Vol. 47:5; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661100* -- Classical & Quantum Mechanics-- (1992-)
665510 -- Magnetohydrodynamics-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONFIGURATION
CONVECTION
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID FLOW
HEAT TRANSFER
MASS TRANSFER
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SIMULATION
SPIRAL CONFIGURATION
STABILITY
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS