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On geometry effects in Rayleigh–Bénard convection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 June 2003

SIEGFRIED GROSSMANN
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Marburg, Renthof 6, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
DETLEF LOHSE
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Physics and J. M. Burgers Centre for Fluid Dynamics University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

Abstract

Various recent experiments hint at a geometry dependence of scaling relations in Rayleigh–Bénard convection. Aspect ratio and shape dependences have been found. In this paper a mechanism is suggested which can account for such dependences, based on Prandtl's theory for laminar boundary layers and on the conservation of volume flux of the large-scale wind. The mechanism implies the possibility of different thicknesses of the kinetic boundary layers at the sidewalls and at the top/bottom plates, as found experimentally, and also different Ra-scaling of the wind over the plates and at the sidewalls. A scaling argument for the velocity and temperature fluctuations in the bulk is also developed.

Type
Papers
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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