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Localization of toroidal motion and shear heating in 3-D high Rayleigh number convection with temperature-dependent viscosityWe have applied spectral-transform methods to study three-dimensional thermal convection with temperature-dependent viscosity. The viscosity varies exponentially with the form exp(-BT), where B controls the viscosity contrast and T is temperature. Solutions for high Rayleigh numbers, up to an effective Ra of 6.25 x 10(exp 6), have been obtained for an aspect-ratio of 5x5x1 and a viscosity contrast of 25. Solutions show the localization of toroidal velocity fields with increasing vigor of convection to a coherent network of shear-zones. Viscous dissipation increases with Rayleigh number and is particularly strong in regions of convergent flows and shear deformation. A time-varying depth-dependent mean-flow is generated because of the correlation between laterally varying viscosity and velocity gradients.
Document ID
19950045256
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Balachandar, S.
(Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL United States)
Yuen, D. A.
(Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN United States)
Reuteler, D. M.
(Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
February 15, 1995
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 22
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Thermodynamics And Statistical Physics
Accession Number
95A76855
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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