Dissipation Layers in Rayleigh-Bénard Convection: A Unifying View

Abstract

Boundary layers play an important role in controlling convective heat transfer. Their nature varies considerably between different application areas characterized by different boundary conditions, which hampers a uniform treatment. Here, we argue that, independent from boundary conditions, systematic dissipation measurements in Rayleigh-Bénard convection capture the relevant near-wall structures. By means of direct numerical simulations with varying Prandtl numbers, we demonstrate that such dissipation layers share central characteristics with classical boundary layers, but, in contrast to the latter, can be extended naturally to arbitrary boundary conditions. We validate our approach by explaining differences in scaling behavior observed for no-slip and stress-free boundaries, thus paving the way to an extension of scaling theories developed for laboratory convection to a broad class of natural systems.

References in corpus (11)

• Large scale dynamics in turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection
• Scaling in thermal convection: A unifying theory
• Thermal convection for large Prandtl numbers
• Global-Scale Turbulent Convection and Magnetic Dynamo Action in the Solar Envelope
• Boundary layer structure in turbulent thermal convection and its consequences for the required numerical resolution
• Radial boundary layer structure and Nusselt number in Rayleigh-Benard convection
• Effects of compressibility on driving zonal flow in gas giants
• Measured Instantaneous Viscous Boundary Layer in Turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard Convection
• Prandtl-Blasius temperature and velocity boundary layer profiles in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection
• Lagrangian studies in convective turbulence
• Turbulence and passive scalar transport in a free-slip surface

Cited by in corpus (18)

• The unifying theory of scaling in thermal convection: The updated prefactors
• Global and local statistics in turbulent convection at low Prandtl numbers
• Turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection in spherical shells
• Local boundary layer scales in turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection
• Scaling of heat flux and energy spectrum for "very large" Prandtl number convection
• Scaling relations in large-Prandtl-number natural thermal convection
• Steady Rayleigh--Bénard convection between stress-free boundaries
• Anelastic Versus Fully Compressible Turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard Convection
• Resolved energy budget of superstructures in Rayleigh-Bénard convection
• Vertically bounded double diffusive convection in the fingering regime: comparing no-slip vs free-slip boundary conditions
• Kinetic Energy Transport in Rayleigh--Bénard Convection
• Closed-loop approach to thermodynamics
• Convective heat transport in slender cells is close to that in wider cells at high Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers
• Lagrangian coherent sets in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection
• Turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection described by projected dynamics in phase space
• Inhibited pattern formation by asymmetrical high voltage excitation in nematic fluids
• The effect of tilt on turbulent thermal convection for a heated soap bubble
• From zonal flow to convection rolls in Rayleigh-Bénard convection with free-slip plates