Physical and numerical experiments on layered convection in a density-Stratified fluid

Abstract

The formation and growth of horizontal layered convection cells in a density stratified solution of salt water subject to an impulsively applied lateral temperature gradient is investigated with physical and numerical experiments. Results indicate that lyers are induced by two mechanisms. One is the successive formation of layers due to the presence of the top and bottom boundaries. The other is the spontaneous occurrence of layers when a suitably defined Rayleigh number exceeds a critical value. It is found that well established layers are homogeneous in temperature and salinity and are separated by sharp gradients in density. Lateral heat transfer is of a periodic nature. Numerical experiments were carried out for finite and infinite geometry cases. For the finite geometry case, convection cells are generated successively inward from the horizontal boundaries. For the infinite geometry case, periodic conditions in the vertical direction are assumed. With continuous input of small perturbations, simultaneous occurrence of the convection cells is obtained at supercritical Rayleigh numbers. Criteria for determining the onset of spontaneous cells numerically are explored.