Gravity modulation effect on weakly nonlinear thermal convection in a fluid layer bounded by rigid boundaries

Abstract

Abstract This paper investigates the effect of gravity modulation on Rayleigh–Bénard convection using the rigid isothermal boundary conditions. We calculate heat transfer results using the Nusselt and mean Nusselt numbers through the finite-amplitude of convection, which we got from the Ginzburg–Landau equation (GLE). The Ginzburg–Landau equation is derived analytically from the Fredholm solvability condition at third order. The finite amplitude equation (GLE) is a function of system parameters and solved numerically. The gravity modulation considered in terms of steady and sinusoidal parts. The sinusoidal part defines gravity modulation in terms of amplitude and frequency. Our study shows that gravity modulation controls the heat transfer results. The amplitude of modulation enhances heat transfer for low frequencies and diminishes for high frequencies. Further, we found that rigid isothermal boundary conditions are diminishing heat transfer than free and isothermal boundaries. Finally, we concluded that rigid isothermal boundary conditions and gravity modulation controls heat transfer results.