Oscillatory instability and fluid patterns in low-Prandtl-number Rayleigh-Bénard convection with uniform rotation

Abstract

We present the results of direct numerical simulations of flow patterns in a low-Prandtl-number ($Pr = 0.1$) fluid above the onset of oscillatory convection in a Rayleigh-Bénard system rotating uniformly about a vertical axis. Simulations were carried out in a periodic box with thermally conducting and stress-free top and bottom surfaces. We considered a rectangular box ($L_x \times L_y \times 1$) and a wide range of Taylor numbers ($750 \le Ta \le 5000$) for the purpose. The horizontal aspect ratio $η= L_y/L_x$ of the box was varied from $0.5$ to $10$. The primary instability appeared in the form of two-dimensional standing waves for shorter boxes ($0.5 \le η< 1$ and $1 < η< 2$). The flow patterns observed in boxes with $η= 1$ and $η= 2$ were different from those with $η< 1$ and $1 < η< 2$. We observed a competition between two sets of mutually perpendicular rolls at the primary instability in a square cell ($η= 1$) for $Ta < 2700$, but observed a set of parallel rolls in the form of standing waves for $Ta \geq 2700$. The three-dimensional convection was quasiperiodic or chaotic for $750 \le Ta < 2700$, and then bifurcated into a two-dimensional periodic flow for $Ta \ge 2700$. The convective structures consisted of the appearance and disappearance of straight rolls, rhombic patterns, and wavy rolls inclined at an angle $ϕ= \fracπ{2} - \arctan{(η^{-1})}$ with the straight rolls.

32 pages, 14 figures, 1 table