Linear and Weakly Nonlinear Triple Diffusive Convection in a Couple Stress Fluid Layer

The effect of couple stresses on linear and weakly nonlinear stability of a triply diffusive fluid layer is investigated. Several departures not observed either in singly or doubly diffusive couple stress fluid layer have been identified while analyzing the linear stability of the problem. In contrast to the doubly diffusive couple stress fluid system, oscillatory convection is found to occur even if the diffusivity ratios are greater than unity. The presence of couple stress is to increase the threshold value of solute Rayleigh number beyond which oscillatory convection is preferred. Moreover, disconnected closed oscillatory neutral curves are identified for certain choices of physical parameters indicating the requirement of three critical values of Rayleigh number to specify the linear stability criteria instead of the usual single value. Besides, heart-shaped oscillatory neutral curves are also found to occur in some cases and the effect of couple stress parameter on some of these unusual behaviors is analyzed. A weakly nonlinear stability analysis is performed using modified perturbation technique and the stability of steady bifurcating non-trivial equilibrium solution is discussed. Heat and mass transfer are calculated in terms of Nusselt numbers and the influence of various physical parameters on the same is discussed in detail

Effect of Horizontal AC Electric Field on the Stability of Natural Convection in a Vertical Dielectric Fluid Layer

The stability of buoyancy-driven parallel shear flow of a dielectric fluid confined between differentially heated vertical plates is investigated under the influence of a uniform horizontal AC electric field. The resulting generalized eigenvalue problem is solved numerically using Chebyshev collocation method with wave speed as the eigenvalue. The critical Grashof number Gc, the critical wave number αc and the critical wave speed cc are computed for wide ranges of AC electric Rayleigh number Rea and the Prandtl number Pr. Based on these parameters, the stability characteristics of the system are discussed in detail. It is found that the AC electric Rayleigh number is to instill instability on convective flow against both stationary and travelling-wave mode disturbances. Nonetheless, the value of Prandtl number at which the transition from stationary to travelling-wave mode takes place is found to be independent of AC electric Rayleigh number. The streamlines and isotherms presented demonstrate the development of complex dynamics at the critical state

Exploration of coriolis force on the linear stability of couple stress fluid flow induced by double diffusive convection

In this paper, the effect of Coriolis force is explored on convective instability of a doubly diffusive incompressible couple stress fluid layer with gravity acting downward. A linear stability analysis is used to obtain the conditions for the onset of stationary and oscillatory convection in the closed form. Being a multiparameter instability problem, results for some isolated cases have been presented to illustrate interesting corners of parameter space. It is found that the neutral curve for oscillatory onset forms a closed-loop which is separate from the neutral curve for stationary onset indicating the requirement of three critical thermal Rayleigh numbers to specify the linear instability criteria instead of the usual single value. Besides, the simultaneous presence of rotation and the addition of heavy solute to the bottom of the layer exhibit an intriguing possibility of destabilizing the system under certain conditions, in contrast to their stabilizing effect when they are present in isolation. The implication of couple stresses on each of the aforementioned anomalies is clearly brought out. The spatial wavelength of convective cells at the onset is also discussed. © 2019 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). All rights reserved

Archives of Microbiology

Not AvailableMicrobial diversity formed by ages of evolution in soils plays an important role in sustainability of crop production by enriching soil and alleviating biotic and abiotic stresses. This diversity is as an essential part of the agro-ecosystems, which is being pushed to edges by pumping agrochemicals and constant soil disturbances. Consequently, efficiency of cropping system has been decreasing, aggravated further by the increased incidence of abiotic stresses due to changes in climatic patterns. Thus, the sustainability of agriculture is at stake. Understanding the microbiota inhabiting phyllosphere, endosphere, spermosphere, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere, and its utilization could be a sustainable crop production strategy. This review explores the available information on diversity of beneficial microbes in agricultural ecosystem and synthesizes their commercial uses in agriculture. Microbiota in agro-ecosystem works by nutrient acquisition, enhancing nutrient availability, water uptake, and amelioration of abiotic and abiotic stresses. External application of such beneficial microbiota or microbial consortia helps in boosting plant growth and provides resistance to drought, salinity, heavy metal, high-temperature and radiation stress in various crop plants. These have been instrumental in enhancing tolerance to diseases, insect pest and nematodes in various cropping system. However, studies on the microbiome in revolutionary production systems like conservation agriculture and protected cultivation, which use lesser agrochemicals, are limited and if exploited can provide valuable input in sustainable agriculture production