McFadden, G.
, Coriell, S.
and Lott, A.
(2010),
Onset of Convection in Binary Liquid Layers, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=903602 (Accessed May 9, 2026)
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Onset of Convection in Binary Liquid Layers
Published
Author(s)
, ,
Abstract
We perform linear stability calculations for horizontal bilayers of a two-component fluid that can undergo a phase transformation, taking into account both buoyancy effects and thermocapillary effects in the presence of a vertical temperature gradient. Critical values for the applied temperature difference across the system that is necessary to produce instability are obtained by a linear stability analysis, using both numerical computations and small-wavenumber approximations. Thermophysical properties are taken from the aluminum-indium monotectic system, which includes a liquid-liquid miscibility gap. In addition to buoyant and thermocapillary modes of instability, we find an oscillatory phase-change instability due to the combined effects of solute diffusion and fluid flow that persists at small wavenumbers. This mode is sensitive to the ratio of the layer widths, and for certain layer widths can occur for heating from either above or below.Citation
Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Volume
647
Pub Type
Journals
Download Paper
Keywords
aluminum-indium, binary liquid, buoyancy, hydrodynamic stability, liquid bilayers, thermocapillarity
Citation
Issues
If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].
Created March 24, 2010, Updated February 19, 2017