Measured oscillations of the velocity and temperature fields in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection in a rectangular cell

Abstract

Temperature and velocity oscillations have been found in a rectangular Rayleigh-Bénard convection cell, in which one large scale convection roll exists. At $Ra=8.9 \times 10^{11}$ and $Pr=4$, temperature oscillation can be observed in most part of the system and the oscillation period remains almost constant, $t_T = 74 \pm 2$ seconds. Velocity oscillation can only be found in its horizontal component, $v_y$ (perpendicular to large scale circulation plane), near the cell sidewall, its oscillation period is also constant, $t_T = 65 \pm 2$ seconds, at these positions. Temperature and velocity oscillations have different Ra dependence, which are respectively indicated by Peclect number $Pe_T = 0.55Ra^{0.47}$ and $Pe_v = 0.28Ra^{0.50}$ . In comparison to the case of cylindrical cell, we find that the velocity oscillation is affected by the system geometry.