Diffusion Induced Flows on a Strip: Theoretical, Numerical and Laboratory Modeling

Abstract

Non-stationary problem of a diffusion-induced flow around a motionless sloping plate submerged in a quiescent continuously stratified fluid is solved using numerical approaches. Breaking of a natural diffusion flux on the impermeable surface leads to deficiency and excess of the stratifying agent above and under the obstacle, respectively, and formation of the compensating fluid flows including basic along-slope jet flows and a complex system of secondary circulating cells. The numerical results are compared with the asymptotic evaluations in the infinite plane approximation and the Schlieren images of stratified flows in the laboratory experiments, which visualize extensive horizontal streaky structures generated by extreme points of the mo- tionless obstacles.