Spectral analysis of boundary layers in Rayleigh-Benard convection

A combined experimental and numerical study of the boundary layer in a 4:1 aspect-ratio Rayleigh-B\'{e}nard cell over a four-decade range of Rayleigh numbers has been undertaken aimed at gaining a better insight into the character of the boundary layers. The experiments involved the simultaneous Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) measurements of fluid velocity at two locations, i.e. in the boundary layer and far away from it in the bulk, for Rayleigh numbers varying between $1.6 \times 10^7$ and $2.4 \times 10^9$. In parallel, direct numerical simulations (DNS) have been performed for the same configuration for Rayleigh numbers between $7.0 \times 10^4$ and $7.7 \times 10^7$. The temperature and velocity probability density functions and the power spectra of the horizontal velocity fluctuations measured in the boundary layer and in the bulk flow are found to be practically identical. Except for the smallest Rayleigh numbers, the spectra in the boundary layer and in the bulk central region are continuous and have a wide range of active scales. This indicates that both the bulk and the boundary layers are turbulent in the $\textrm{Ra}$ number range considered. However, molecular effects can still be observed and the boundary layer does not behave like a classical shear-driven turbulent boundary layer.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Prime modes of fluid circulation in large-aspect-ratio turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection

Based on a detailed experimental investigation in an aspect-ratio-4 rectangular cell in the range 3.7×107?Ra?3.7×109, we present evidence of possible scenarios of the long-term dynamics of large-scale circulations (LSC) in bounded large-aspect-ratio turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection. Karhunen-Loève analysis of instantaneous velocity fields from long-time particle image velocimetry measurements suggests two different states, but both appear to be produced by a single large-scale flow structure. The measurements provide a three-dimensional picture of LSC in the ?=4 cell. A modified scaling relation between the LSC peak frequency ?p and Ra is proposed.Multi-Scale PhysicsApplied Science