Nonlinear development of oscillatory instability in a three-layer system under the joint action of buoyancy and thermocapillary effect

Abstract

The nonlinear development of oscillatory instability under the joint action of buoyant and thermocapillary effects in multilayer system is investigated. The nonlinear convective regimes are studied by the finite difference method. The calculations have been performed for two-dimensional flows. The interfaces are assumed to be nondeforming. Rigid heat-insulated lateral walls are considered. Transitions between the flows with different spatial structures are studied. Specific types of nonlinear flows—symmetric and asymmetric oscillations—have been found. It is shown that the oscillatory flow takes place in an interval of Grashof number values bounded both from below by the quiescent mechanical equilibrium, and from above by a convecting steady state. Cavities with different lengths are considered.