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Convection experiments in a centrifuge and the generation of plumes in a very viscous fluidIn this paper, experiments are described for which inertial effects are negligible. A small aspect-ratio tank filled with a very viscous fluid (Pr = 10 to the 6th) is used to observe the behavior of convection for Rayleigh numbers up to 6.3 x 10 to the 5th. These high values are reached by conducting the experiment in a centrifuge which provides a 130-fold increase in apparent gravity. Rotational effects are small, but cannot be totally dismissed. In this geometry, thermal boundary layer instabilities are indeed observed, and are found to be very similar to their lower Prandtl number counterparts. It is tentatively concluded that once given a certain degree of 'vulnerability' convection can develop 'plume' like instabilities, even when the Prandtl number is infinite. The concept is applied to the earth's mantle and it is speculated that 'plumes' could well be the dominant mode of small-scale convection under the lithospheric plates.
Document ID
19840057098
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Nataf, H.-C.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Hager, B. H.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Scott, R. F.
(California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Annales Geophysicae
Volume: 2
ISSN: 0755-0685
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Heat Transfer
Accession Number
84A39885
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7610
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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