Numerical simulations of interface viscosity effects on thermoconvective motion in two-dimensional rectangular boxes

• Published in: International journal of heat and mass transfer Vol. 38; no. 14; pp. 2539 - 2548
• Main Authors: Regnier, V.C., Parmentier, P.M., Lebon, G., Platten, J.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1995; Elsevier
• Subjects: Convection and heat transfer; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Hydrodynamic stability; Physics; Surface-tension-driven instability; Turbulent flows, convection, and heat transfer; Interfaces; Viscosity; Stability; Numerical simulation; Two layer medium; Immiscible fluid; Cavity flow; Convection; Heat transfer
• ISSN: 0017-9310; 1879-2189
• DOI: 10.1016/0017-9310(95)00016-3

In thermoconvection problems, it is generally assumed that the dissipative effects at the interface play a negligible role. In dimensionless form, the importance of this effect can be quantified by the interface viscosity number Vi. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of an interface viscosity on convective motions through two illustrative situations performed within a two-dimensional (2D) finite-difference code. In the first example, the upper fluid is passive while in the second example, one considers two superposed immiscible fluids in a closed rectangular cavity. The maximum surface velocity, the stream lines and the: kinetic energy of the bulk flow are calculated for Vi-values varying between 0 and 10. For Vi>-1, it is shown that the interface viscosity has a non-negligible influence, particularly in the vicinity of the interface.