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 International Review on Modelling and Simulations (I.RE.MO.S.), Vol. 6, N. 1
ISSN 1974-9821 February 2013

Numerical Simulation of Compressible Thermo-Buoyant Flow

in a Partially Opened Enclosure with Localized Heater from Below

S. Ben Mabrouk1, H. Ben Ahmed1,2

Abstract – We present two numerical models for the study of unsteady two-dimensional flow of
air subjected to a heat source in a cell divided into two areas of different size by a vertical lintel.
The heat source placed on the floor of the enclosure produces hot gases for a finite time. First
numerical model based on solving the equations of conservation of mass, momentum and energy,
uses an implicit scheme in time and a finite difference hybrid space. The injection of hot gas in the
two areas led to the abandonment of the Boussinesq hypothesis. This model also takes into
account variations in the physical properties of the fluid. The second model is a finite element
approach which gave more detailed results, thanks to the high density of the mesh node and the
incorporation of the boundary conditions in the general equations of the problem. Dynamically,
the results are very significant in terms of the flow direction, circulation areas and creation of
vortices. The results for two simple cases of a cell partitioned allowed us to know the
characteristics of the flow adjacent to the heat source and through the two compartments of the
enclosure. Copyright © 2013 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved.

Keywords: Convection, Flow Structure, Finite Elements, Numerical Simulation, Thermal Plume

Nomenclature Thermal conductivity of air (Wm-1K-1)

µ Dynamic viscosity of the air (Pa s)
a Thermal diffusivity of the air (m²s-1) generic function (variables u, v)
Af Aspect ratios (-) Density of the air (kgm-3)
Cp Constant pressure specific heat (J/kg K) q Global heat flux (Wm-²)
g Acceleration gravity (ms-2) Qcov Heat flux exchanged by convection (Wm-²)
H Height of the enclosure (m) Qrad Heat flux exchanged by radiation (Wm-²)
L Length of the enclosure (m) t Heating time step (s or min)
Nu Nusselt number T Temperature difference T=Tc-Th (K)
Pr Prandtl number (-)
Ra Rayleigh number (-)
Re Reynolds number (-) I. Introduction
t Time of the system (s)
t* Dimensionless time (-) Natural convection flows appear in many technical
T Local temperature (K) applications, like cooling of electronic components,
Tc , T h Temperature of the hot and cold walls, (K) climate conditioning of rooms and solar collectors. Bases
T0 Initial uniform temperature of the system, (K) on this matter, numerous studies have been performed to
T* Dimensionless temperature (-) probe free convection subjects experimentally and
u, v Flow velocity components in x and y directions, numerically [1]-[2]. Tasaka and Takeda presented a
respectively (ms-1) numerical study of the effects of a heat source
u*,v* Dimensionless flow velocity components in x distribution on natural convection by internal heating [3].
and y directions, respectively (-) They also performed a linear stability to investigate the
V Flow velocity (ms-1) influence of the heat source on critical Rayleigh number
x, y Cartesian coordinates and critical wave-number. Sharma et al. [4] carried out
x*, y* Dimensionless coordinates (m) many studies of turbulent natural convection in square
cavity with localized heating from below. They used
Greek symbols Boussinesq approximation to determine the buoyancy
force and developed a correlation to predict the heat
Volumetric expansion coefficient of the air (K-1)
transfer rates as function of dimensionless heated width
(°)
of the bottom wall and the value of Rayleigh number
ch Thermal conductivity of walls (Wm-1 K-1)
using least square linear regression analysis. Other
studies [5] analyzed the influence of radiative heat

Manuscript received and revised January 2013, accepted February 2013 Copyright © 2013 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved

214
 S. Ben Mabrouk, H. Ben Ahmed
transfer on natural convection in square cavity. They
considered various Rayleigh numbers and optical
thicknesses, and concluded that even under normal room
condition with a low temperature difference, the
radiation has major effect on the heat transfer rate and
temperature and flow fields in the cavity.
Within a framework similar to our study, a large
number of works is in hand interesting the confined and
semi-confined convective flows and also non stationary
compressible flows with numerical approaches.
By way of indication, Kaviany [2], Le Quéré et all.
[6], Lauréat [7] and Bennacer et all. [8] are particularly
interested on convective flows in confined and semi-
confined spaces. Moreover, the differentially-heated
cavity is subject of great number of interesting problems,
especially when we can release simple and useful
conclusions and interpretations [8]. Because the
enclosure flow consists of different high Rayleigh
number structures, several more-or-less fundamental
physical instability mechanisms are possible. The most
unstable one with the lowest critical Rayleigh number
depends on the aspect ratio and on the type of boundary
conditions of the heated enclosures [9]. Benchmark
results up to Ra = 106 were provided by De Vahl Davis
and Jones [10], and up to Ra =108 by Le Quéré [11].
In all the studies mentioned above, the Boussinesq
approximation has been used to determine the buoyancy
force. This estimation causes a restricted clause: the
temperature difference between hot and cold sources
should not be high, so this assumption restricts the
application of Boussinesq approximation to the domains
with low temperature gradients. But in practical
situations in science and industry, there might be
domains with considerable temperature gradient between
hot and cold zones; hence the Boussinesq estimation may
not be valid with these conditions.
So, in the past years, several researchers have
employed some non-Boussinesq estimations to study
high thermo-buoyant ows [12]. Darbandi and
Hosseinizadeh [13] applied a novel non-Boussinesq
numerical algorithm to survey the free-convection inside
a square cavity with high temperature gradient. They
considered various temperature gradients to generate
different low to high thermo-buoyant elds and
developed an analogy to solve low-Mach number
compressible ow on staggered grid arrangement. Based
on this analogy, the basic SIMPLE incompressible
methodology was generalized for solving either
incompressible or compressible ows [14].
They also showed that their formulations provide
more reliable solutions than those of previous works
[15].
Our study relates to the natural convection in an
opened rectangular enclosure and thermally trained.
Then, we investigate the heat transfer enhancement
through the enclosure and evaluate the transitional flow
pattern under an enclosure with thermally isolated walls
[16]. The aim of this study is to simulate numerically the
Copyright © 2013 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved
215
compressible and incompressible free-convection heat
transfer in opened rectangular enclosures with localized
heating from below under high temperature gradient.
As mentioned before because the Boussinesq
approximation may not be valid in this condition, the
non-Boussinesq algorithm has been used to determine
the uid compressibility and the buoyancy force. In this
method, the uid properties are dependent on
temperature and the Sutherland's law has been used for
this purpose.
The parameters, power of the heat source, Rayleigh
number and Reynolds number are varied to explore some
interesting results. Then in a next stage, the results of
compressible flow and incompressible ow have been
compared and discussed.
II. Problem Formulation
We consider a Newtonian fluid in an enclosure with
height H and width L. The vertical y-axis has its positive
direction opposite to that of gravity g. In the horizontal
direction, x –axis is the lateral coordinate. The schematic
diagram of a simplified model is shown in Fig. 1.
The depth of the enclosure perpendicular to the plane
of the diagram is assumed to be long. Hence, the
problem can be considered to be two-dimensional. The
top wall and the unheated parts of the bottom wall are
insulated, while the left vertical side wall is maintained at
a low temperature of TC and the heated portion of the
bottom wall are kept isothermal at a high temperature of
TH .
On the bottom of the enclosure, a heat source Qrad is
placed at a distance measured from the left vertical wall.
Heat fluxes q may create an airflow motion. The
temperature difference is assumed to be sufficiently
small for the weakly turbulent approximation to hold.
The fluid flow inside the enclosure can be described
by the dimensionless equations of conservation of the
mass, the momentum and the energy balances [17].
III. Governing Equations
The following mathematical study is performed to
determine the dynamic structure and thermal layer of air
set in motion by buoyancy forces in an elongated opened
enclosure containing a heat source.
The setting in motion of the fluid is produced by local
variations in the density due to relatively large
temperature differences. Pressure gradients are of the
same order of magnitude as the volume forces
(buoyancy), and the equations must be solved in a
coupled manner. The system of equations governing the
flow is written using conservation laws of fluid
mechanics.
Assuming two-dimensional flow and adopting the
coordinate system shown in Fig. 1, these equations can
be written in the following general form:
International Review on Modelling and Simulations, Vol. 6, N. 1
 S. Ben Mabrouk, H. Ben Ahmed

uu uv fluid is at rest, the pressure fields and density should

0 (1) verify the equation of hydrostatic:
t x y
dPo
u uu uv og 0 (6)
dy
t x y
(2)
P u u Substitution of the Eq. (6) to the momentum Eq. (3)
Su
x x x y y gives:

v uv vv P Po
v uv vv
t x y y
t x y (7)
(3) v v
P v v g o Sv
g Sv x x y y
y x x y y

where (P-Po) is the motive pressure of the system and ( -

Cp T Cp u T Cp v T
o) the difference in local density relative hydrostatic
t x y breaks. The dynamic viscosity µ, the density , the
(4) thermal conductivity and the specific heat Cp at
T T
ST constant pressure are a priori according to temperature
x x y y
and pressure.
In this case, it is possible to use the equation of state
The source terms are defined as: of ideal gas to among other things, eliminate the pressure
Eqs. (2) and (3). However, the numerical treatment of the
u v resulting equations is rather difficult and integration is
Su subjected to severe stability criteria since this system of
x x y x
equations is one that allows, in particular, describing the
u v (5) propagation of sound waves [18].
Sv
x y y y
ST Qrad III.1. Simplifying Assumptions
In the case of an open cell and for low temperature
The term energy source Qrad is the radiative fluxes
differences ( T / To << 1), the relative variations in
emitted by the heat source and the walls.
pressure are less than 10-3 and can be neglected.
Interactions depend on the radiative emissivity local
This is justified if the characteristic velocity of the
gradients intrinsic temperature and concentrations of
fluid V is in the order of 1m/s; (as when this fluid
smoke.
characteristic velocity is negligible compared to the
In the following, the global heat flux Q = Qrad +Qcov is
speed of sound).
considered as a given problem, its value is the radiation
flux and convection emission in the enclosure. When the

Fig. 1. The Schematic representation of the heated open-cavity and coordinate system

Copyright © 2013 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved International Review on Modelling and Simulations, Vol. 6, N. 1

216
 S. Ben Mabrouk, H. Ben Ahmed

For these flows, the physical properties of the fluid are u v

generally considered independent of pressure. In this 0
x y
case, the following relations are used as state equations:
u 1
u u u P 0
1 0 ,73 t
x, y,t T x, y,t T (12)
v 1
o To o To v v v P g T T0
(8) t
0 ,83 0 ,05
x, y,t T C p x, y,t T T T T
u v a T q
o To C po To t x y

The system of compressible equations will be closed
using the state equation of the perfect gas law, which
relates the real thermo-dynamic pressure to the density
and temperature elds:
p RT
However, for high values of the source terms Q, or in
the case of closed-cell with adiabatic walls, we used the
relationship proposed by Rehm and Baum [19], which
allows to take into account variations in (x, y, t) with the
temperature and pressure without introducing acoustic
phenomena:
x, y,t
RT x, y,t
is an average pressure. To consider the temperature
dependent properties of the air as a compressible gas,
Sutherland's law has been used.
According to Sutherland's law, the viscosity
coefficient µ and the thermal conductivity are
determined from:
1.5
T0 C T
T 0 ; T
T C T0
C is a constant and µ0 the dynamic viscosity at T0.
Our study is directed towards the realization of two
numerical models making it possible to solve the
equations of two-dimensional viscous compressible fluid
flow subjected to a variable heat source. Treated by two
different way, we were able to clear behaviour of fluid in
the laminar case and in the transition toward the
turbulence.
The system of Eqs., (1) to (10), including the initial
and boundaries conditions, with specific simplifying
assumptions is used in the case of classical finite volume
modelling (FVM).
Moreover, the finite element approach (FEM) needs a
specific formulation describing the physical process in a
simple manner and permitting the establishment of the
matrixes. After introduction of the reference variables,
one of these formulations can be written as the below
system (12):
Here t is the time, u and v are the velocity components
in the x and y directions respectively, T is the
temperature, P is the pressure, is the density, is the
coefficient of thermal expansion, is the kinematic
viscosity, is the thermal diffusivity and q is the heat
(9) flux. These equations are made dimensionless with the
choice of the length scale, the convective time scale and
the temperature scale [16].
However, in the present study the choice of the
scaling is not important, as we will always specify the
characteristic numbers. The dimensionless solution
depends on only the Rayleigh number
3 2
( Ra g TH Pr/ ), the Reynolds number
( Re VL / ), the Prandtl number (Pr= / ), the aspect
(10) ratio (Af = H/L) and the heat flux q. Only air into a
heated cavity will be considered here (Pr = 0.71).
To reduce the complexity of the problem with finite
element modelling, we can neglect the terms of viscous
dissipation and variation of pressure in the equation of
energy for flows at low velocities.
Without loss of generality, the physical properties of
the fluid can also be considered independent of the
pressure [18]. If the dimensionless temperature
difference is sufficiently large, the flow structure is
characterized by thin boundary layers along the walls
Cp and by a core region which is highly transitional or
T (11) weakly turbulent. For these powerful thermal sources,
Pr
the equations used to treat the weakly turbulent flow are
those of the classic ( - ) turbulent model [20].
III.2. Initial and Boundary Conditions
The boundary conditions are those of adherence and
impermeability for the velocity components and the
Neumann conditions for the temperature (Fig. 2). On the
solid walls such as AB, AD, DC and EF, dynamic
boundary conditions are those of impermeability and
adhesion. These walls are also considered perfectly
adiabatic.
On the free boundary, such as windows and doors, the
conditions must allow a free flow of fluid through the
opening. For enclosures ratios of Af 1, the works of
Chan et al. [6] suggest that the internal flow is sensitive
to the effects of the opening. One of the techniques
adopted to address this free boundary is the use of an
enlarged area.

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217
 S. Ben Mabrouk, H. Ben Ahmed
However, for enclosures elongated with Af 0.5
some studies propose to take as the fictive wall, the plane
of the opening. On the level of the free border of the
enclosure (open side), we have fluid-flow patterns with
two directions: returning at the ambient temperature
Tinp= T0 in the low part and outgoing on the level of the
high part (Fig. 2). The relative pressure is taken as a null
value in the plane of this free border.
The co-ordinate Yo, where the relative pressure and
the velocity components are taken as zero will have to be
specified.
In our case, the wall is the fictitious plane passing
through BC (Fig. 2), where the pressure field is known
and the velocity components can be positive or negative.
The dynamic boundary conditions chosen are such
that the derivative of the velocity component normal to
the plane BC is zero.
The temperature imposed at the bottom of this border
is that of the environment Tinp. At the top where the flow
is exiting, the derivative of the normal temperature at the
free surface is zero (as for an important convective flow).
These boundary conditions require the definition of
coordinates of the point of zero quantity of motion Yo;
this limit separates the outflow of the returning flow.
The dimensionless forms of the boundary conditions
are indicated below in Fig. 2.
IV. Computation Details
The governing equations can be formulated via the
Finite Volume Method (FVM) using a formulation of the
equations in primitive variables (u, v, P, T).
The convective term was approximated by the
classical second-order upwind scheme, and the diffusive
used the central difference scheme, provided that the
geometric conservation law was satisfied [17].
For finite volume method (FVM), the scheme is
implicitly stable. The domain of integration consists of a
grid of points around which is constructed the control
domain. In our case, we have considered a staggered grid
system of the interior space of the compartment, in order
to simplify the formulation of convective terms and
pressure and we have used 41 nodes in the x-direction
and 21 nodes in the y-direction. The SIMPLE algorithm
is then employed to solve the resulting simultaneous
Fig. 2. The physical model of heated open-cavity with boundary conditions
Copyright © 2013 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved
218
algebraic equations [14]. The used system of equations
and the boundary conditions that represent the physical
situation are described in [17] and [23].
The calculation stops when all the maximum residues
of mass momentum and energy are less than 5x10-7.
For the second system (12), specific formulations
have been solved with Finite Element Method (FEM),
using a discretisation of Petro-Galerkin linked with finite
difference scheme for transient terms. The FEM scheme
is an improved finite-element method for heat and mass
transfer, and for fluid flow using equal-order velocity-
pressure interpolation. The finite element calculation
gives high accuracy in results, because of high density
meshing (14600 nodes) and boundary conditions
treatment.
The numerical resolution led us to study the variation
of initial and boundary conditions, to follow the
displacement of the hot air layers for given aero-thermal
conditions, to appreciate the influence of several
parameters governing transfer phenomena and finally to
carry out a comparative study with those established by
other authors.
V. Results and Discussions
We used two different numerical approaches to the
same problem, a finite volume model programmed in
Fortran, and another finite element model programmed
with a CFD- Flotran code (on Flotran CFD). Figs. 3 and
4 present an example of results for the open enclosure
without separation.
The finite volume numerical (FVM) results show that
the air movement is influenced by significant variations
of the temperature near the heat source. In the zone
neighbouring to the heat source, a free phenomenon of
convection is remarkable. The temperature and velocity
perturbations are plotted for different time steps and heat
source powers.
As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, some fluid leaves the
vertical boundary layer and travels through the core to
the horizontal upper layer near the open side. This causes
a recirculation in horizontal planes of the core region.
Similar travelling perturbations were found in the
supercritical two-dimensional cases [4] – [18].
International Review on Modelling and Simulations, Vol. 6, N. 1
 S. Ben Mabrouk, H. Ben Ahmed
Fig. 3. Distribution of velocity vector for the open enclosure without
separation, obtained with the FVM model.
Af = 0.33 =1/3 ; t = 20s ; Q = 100W/m2
Fig. 4. Distribution of velocity vector for the open enclosure
without separation, obtained with the FVM model.
Af = 0.33 =1/3 ; t = 50s ; Q = 100W/m2
In Fig. 5 is represented all of the velocity vectors in
the study area of the opened rectangular enclosures with
localized heating from below. We note the presence of
different amplitudes distributed according to space. The
velocity varies from zero on the walls up to 0.15 m/s
inside the enclosure. So, we distinguish four zones:
Zone 1: This is the area where velocities arise, an
accelerating region since it is directly above the heat
source.
Zone 2: The air deflects the rigid separation as an
impermeable wall is in its left side.
Zone 3: Pushed by the hot air that arrives from the
left, a portion of the fluid is forced out of the cavity by
its open top.
Zone 4: The incoming air has a temperature lower
than that in the cavity. It is in the lower limit of the open
portion of the cavity. The law of conservation of mass is
verified by noticing a change of air.
Thus, all the effects in the cavity, leads us to the
velocity profile at the opening. A top area whose
direction is positive corresponding to a hot out coming
flow, and another whose direction is negative
corresponding to a returning cold air. This profile is
similar almost everywhere at the opening plane.
Copyright © 2013 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved
219
The results obtained by the FEM model are shown in
Figs. 6, 7 and 8. Differences between the FVM (Figs. 3,
4 and 5) and FEM solutions are detected by comparison
of the time-averaged solutions and by comparison of the
characteristic time scales as found in the autocorrelation
of the velocity fields at different monitoring points. The
finite element approach gave detailed results due to the
high density mesh size node, and the incorporation of the
boundary conditions in the general equations of the
problem.
Dynamically, the results are highly significant in
terms of flow direction, circulation zones, and creation of
vortices and renewal of air. This model also allowed us
to treat a case of weak turbulence for high values of the
power of the heat source. We were able to express
graphically the density, viscosity, and the turbulent
kinetic energy using powerful graphic software. So, this
simulation seems realistic.
The qualitative aspect of the results is very
satisfactory. However, we have not made direct
comparisons of the calculated values of velocity,
pressure and temperature with reliable experimental data.
Nevertheless, the orders of magnitude of calculated and
simulated values are comparable to values usually found
in similar real problems. Therefore, the comparison with
experimental results well is necessary.
An animation of the perturbations in the (x, y)-plane
revealed that the perturbations are travelling in a
clockwise direction through the core region and the
horizontal boundary layers. These perturbations
introduce a secondary recirculation flow that is located at
the corner region and extends along upper layers.
Fig. 6 provides us with the appearance of the pressure,
and the values of the motive pressure in the cavity. We
note that the motive pressure is maximal near the heat
source.
The value of the pressure decreases going away from
the source, and this regardless of the direction. The
temperature variation shown on Fig. 7 is similar to that
of the pressure, since they are proportional. One can
notice the existence of almost isothermal concentric
surfaces.
The temperature variation for one color is such that its
maximum value in its first limit, close to the heat source,
(268 °C at the center of the black color and 240 °C in
contact with the navy blue).
Fig. 8 shows the amplitude of the velocity vectors for
a heating power of 1000W/m2 during 100s.The flow
evolves in the same way as the previous cases. The flow
is characterized by a left shift of the effect of convection.
Fig. 9 represents the velocity at equilibrium, whose
maximum value is 0.57 m/s (significantly less than the
speed of sound). Although the flow that we have just
described is compressible, we have no remarkable
acoustic effects. This is a low-flow Mach number.
The new air coming from the free bound, drives left
the convective flow upper the heat source. Augmentation
of heat source energy-value makes velocity increase.
International Review on Modelling and Simulations, Vol. 6, N. 1
 S. Ben Mabrouk, H. Ben Ahmed

Zone 2 Zone 3

Zone 1 Zone 4

Fig. 5. Distribution of the velocity vectors obtained by using the FVM model
Af = 0.33 =1/3 ; t = 100s ; Q = 50 W/m2

P= 1.052 bar P= 1.0094 bar

P= 1.0095 bar

P= 1.0150 bar P= 1.004 bar

P= 1.0160 bar

P= 1.0205 bar
P= 1.000 bar
P= 1.0213 bar

Fig. 6. Pressure field and isobars lines for a heating power of 1000 W/m2 during 100s. Results obtained by using the FEM model

268 240 191 125 100 85 65 50 45 25°C

Fig. 7. Temperature field obtained by using the FEM model, for Af =1/3 ; t = 100s and heat power Q = 1000 W/m2

Copyright © 2013 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved International Review on Modelling and Simulations, Vol. 6, N. 1

220
 S. Ben Mabrouk, H. Ben Ahmed

Therefore with a power-source value equal to 1000
W/m2, Reynolds number exceeds 2500, the turbulent
transition will appear. So that, a standard (k- ) model is
used for evaluating turbulent kinetic energy, dissipation
of turbulent kinetic energy, effective viscosity, effective
density, and new values of pressure, velocity and
temperature (Figs. 9, 10 and 11). The (k- ) model is
useful for low Reynolds numbers and efficient far from
boundaries [20] - [23]. These figures present examples of
results where legend values are in SI.

Fig. 8. Distribution of the velocity vectors obtained by using the FVM model. Af =1/3 ; t = 100s ; Heat source power Q = 1000 W/m2

Fig. 9. Velocity Vectors and isoclines at equilibrium - Heat source power = 1000 W/m2. Results obtained by using the (k- ) model

Fig. 10. Instantaneous Velocity fluctuations obtained by using the (k- ) model. Af =1/3 ; t = 50s ; Q = 1000 W/m2

Copyright © 2013 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved International Review on Modelling and Simulations, Vol. 6, N. 1

221
 S. Ben Mabrouk, H. Ben Ahmed
Fig. 11. Evolution of the turbulent kinetic energy at equilibrium ( t =1000s), Af =1/3 ; Q =1000 W/m2
In general, the results are very significant and
interesting; the use of two methods helped to improve the
critical simulation. Indeed, we have shown numerically
the communication with the outside of the cavity,
creating turbulence in the corners and behind the
separation. Similarly, we noticed the existence of an
intermediate zone which is a physical barrier between the
hot flow out of the top, and cold flow returning from the
bottom.
This work does not simulate a fire compartment in its
real size, as in the case of an accidental fire power source
is very large, and turbulence phenomena are much more
complex. Nevertheless, it can be described as a first step
toward the study of this problem, it describes perfectly
the case of convective motions generated by
conventional sources of heat (solar floor heating, radiator
on the floor, industrial boiler ...).
V.1. Physical Origin of the Instabilities
For a conducting enclosure, the first two-dimensional
instability is related to the Rayleigh-Benard instability in
an unstable stratified environment. Arguments for this
were given by Janssen & Henkes [18] and by Le Quéré
[10] for a square enclosure with differentially heated
vertical walls. The first instability in this enclosure was
probably due to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in the
detached boundary layer.
With respect to the two-dimensional structure and
stability for adiabatic enclosures, Oztop et all. [24] and
Ravi, Henkes & Hoogendoorn [25] have shown that the
instability in the corner is due to a thermal mechanism.
The nature of physical instabilities found in the
present study can be judged from the type of energy
contained in the three-dimensional spatial structures. For
the two-dimensional instabilities, the physical nature was
indicated in earlier studies [23].
From the Navier-Stokes equations, we can consider
the generic variables (x, y, t) with ( ) and
In what follows, the quantities (x, y, t) denote the
Copyright © 2013 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved
velocity components and their perturbed velocity field
respectively.
Evaluation of the non-linear two-dimensional
solutions reveals that the total of energy source consists
of shear and buoyancy for the heated adiabatic or
conducting enclosures [23].
The shear is largest in the core region and near the left
vertical boundary layer (Fig. 5, zones 1 and 2). The
buoyancy is largest in part of the horizontal boundary
layers and in the upper part of the vertical open side
(zone 3). In the downstream part of the vertical open
side, the buoyancy is negative, and it thus decreases the
kinetic energy in the right lower zone (zone 4). This
indicates that these dimensional instabilities have a
combined hydrodynamic and thermal nature.
VI. Conclusion
Our study is directed towards the realization of two
numerical models making it possible to solve the
equations of two-dimensional viscous compressible fluid
flow subjected to a variable heat source. Two models
take account of the variations of the fluid physical
properties. The temperature and velocity perturbations
are plotted at the first instances for different planes in the
heated cavity and at the equilibrium. The simulated
solutions obtained by both models are in agreement with
later studies. Finite element method (FEM) program
provided acceptable results for the velocity field,
temperature and pressure. The orders of magnitude of
values of the variables P, T, and V provided by this
program are also satisfactory.
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