Natural convection in a vertical channel. Part 1. Wavenumber interaction and Eckhaus instability in a narrow domain

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Main Authors: Zheng, Zheng, Tuckerman, Laurette S., Schneider, Tobias M.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Zheng, Zheng
Tuckerman, Laurette S.
Schneider, Tobias M.
author_facet Zheng, Zheng
Tuckerman, Laurette S.
Schneider, Tobias M.
contents In a vertical channel driven by an imposed horizontal temperature gradient, numerical simulations have previously shown steady, time-periodic and chaotic dynamics. We explore the observed dynamics by constructing invariant solutions of the three-dimensional Oberbeck-Boussinesq equations, characterizing the stability of these equilibria and periodic orbits, and following the bifurcation structure of the solution branches under parametric continuation in Rayleigh number. We find that in a narrow vertically-periodic domain of aspect ratio ten, the flow is dominated by the competition between three and four co-rotating rolls. We demonstrate that branches of three and four-roll equilibria are connected and can be understood in terms of their discrete symmetries. Specifically, the D4 symmetry of the four-roll branch dictates the existence of qualitatively different intermediate branches that themselves connect to the three-roll branch in a transcritical bifurcation due to D3 symmetry. The physical appearance, disappearance, merging and splitting of rolls along the connecting branch provide a physical and phenomenological illustration of the equivariant theory of D3-D4 mode interaction. We observe other manifestations of the competition between three and four rolls, in which the symmetry in time or in the transverse direction is broken, leading to limit cycles or wavy rolls, respectively. Our work highlights the interest of combining numerical simulations, bifurcation theory, and group theory, in order to understand the transitions between and origin of flow patterns.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_19493
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Natural convection in a vertical channel. Part 1. Wavenumber interaction and Eckhaus instability in a narrow domain
Zheng, Zheng
Tuckerman, Laurette S.
Schneider, Tobias M.
Fluid Dynamics
Chaotic Dynamics
Pattern Formation and Solitons
In a vertical channel driven by an imposed horizontal temperature gradient, numerical simulations have previously shown steady, time-periodic and chaotic dynamics. We explore the observed dynamics by constructing invariant solutions of the three-dimensional Oberbeck-Boussinesq equations, characterizing the stability of these equilibria and periodic orbits, and following the bifurcation structure of the solution branches under parametric continuation in Rayleigh number. We find that in a narrow vertically-periodic domain of aspect ratio ten, the flow is dominated by the competition between three and four co-rotating rolls. We demonstrate that branches of three and four-roll equilibria are connected and can be understood in terms of their discrete symmetries. Specifically, the D4 symmetry of the four-roll branch dictates the existence of qualitatively different intermediate branches that themselves connect to the three-roll branch in a transcritical bifurcation due to D3 symmetry. The physical appearance, disappearance, merging and splitting of rolls along the connecting branch provide a physical and phenomenological illustration of the equivariant theory of D3-D4 mode interaction. We observe other manifestations of the competition between three and four rolls, in which the symmetry in time or in the transverse direction is broken, leading to limit cycles or wavy rolls, respectively. Our work highlights the interest of combining numerical simulations, bifurcation theory, and group theory, in order to understand the transitions between and origin of flow patterns.
title Natural convection in a vertical channel. Part 1. Wavenumber interaction and Eckhaus instability in a narrow domain
topic Fluid Dynamics
Chaotic Dynamics
Pattern Formation and Solitons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.19493