A new analysis of the Rayleigh-B\`{e}nard instability

ORAL

Abstract

An approach to the solution of the Rayleigh-B\`{e}nard stability problem different from the standard one produces a very simple approximate solution in closed form which differs by less than 1\% from the exact result. Using the same procedure, the effect of finite thermal conductivities of the top and bottom plates and of suspended, thermally active particles on the stability threshold is also investigated.

*Supported by the National Science Foundation under grants CBET-0625138 and CBET-0754344.

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Authors

  • Andrea Prosperetti

    • Johns Hopkins University
    • University of Twente, The Netherlands
    • Johns Hopkins University and University of Twente, The Netherlands