arXiv subjects

Pierre Maubert

Publications and source records attributed to Pierre Maubert.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2013

Magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the elliptical instability in triaxial ellipsoids

The elliptical instability can take place in planetary cores and stars elliptically deformed by gravitational effects, where it generates large-scale three-dimensional flows assumed to be dynamo capable. In this work, we present the first magneto-hydrodynamic numerical simulations of such flows, using a finite-element method. We first validate our numerical approach by comparing with kinematic and dynamic dynamos benchmarks of the literature. We then systematically study the magnetic field induced by various modes of the elliptical instability from an imposed external field in a triaxial ellipsoidal geometry, relevant in a geo- and astrophysical context. Finally, in tidal induction cases, the external magnetic field is suddenly shut down and the decay rates of the magnetic field are systematically reported.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2010

A systematic numerical study of the tidal instability in a rotating triaxial ellipsoid

The full non-linear evolution of the tidal instability is studied numerically in an ellipsoidal fluid domain relevant for planetary cores applications. Our numerical model, based on a finite element method, is first validated by reproducing some known analytical results. This model is then used to address open questions that were up to now inaccessible using theoretical and experimental approaches. Growth rates and mode selection of the instability are systematically studied as a function of the aspect ratio of the ellipsoid and as a function of the inclination of the rotation axis compared to the deformation plane. We also quantify the saturation amplitude of the flow driven by the instability and calculate the viscous dissipation that it causes. This tidal dissipation can be of major importance for some geophysical situations and we thus derive general scaling laws which are applied to typical planetary cores.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2010

Tidal instability in a rotating and differentially heated ellipsoidal shell

The stability of a rotating flow in a triaxial ellipsoidal shell with an imposed temperature difference between inner and outer boundaries is studied numerically. We demonstrate that (i) a stable temperature field encourages the tidal instability, (ii) the tidal instability can grow on a convective flow, which confirms its relevance to geo- and astrophysical contexts and (iii) its growth rate decreases when the intensity of convection increases. Simple scaling laws characterizing the evolution of the heat flux based on a competition between viscous and thermal boundary layers are derived analytically and verified numerically. Our results confirm that thermal and tidal effects have to be simultaneously taken into account when studying geophysical and astrophysical flows.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2007

Direct Numerical Simulation of structural vacillation in the transition to geostrophic turbulence

The onset of small-scale fluctuations around a steady convection pattern in a rotating baroclinic annulus filled with air is investigated using Direct Numerical Simulation. In previous laboratory experiments of baroclinic waves, such fluctuations have been associated with a flow regime termed Structural Vacillation which is regarded as the first step in the transition to fully-developed geostrophic turbulence.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2006

DNS of bifurcations in an air-filled rotating baroclinic annulus

Three-dimensional Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) on the nonlinear dynamics and a route to chaos in a rotating fluid subjected to lateral heating is presented here and discussed in the context of laboratory experiments in the baroclinic annulus. Following two previous preliminary studies by Maubert and Randriamampianina, the fluid used is air rather than a liquid as used in all other previous work. This study investigated a bifurcation sequence from the axisymmetric flow to a number of complex flows. The transition sequence, on increase of the rotation rate, from the axisymmetric solution via a steady, fully-developed baroclinic wave to chaotic flow followed a variant of the classical quasi-periodic bifurcation route, starting with a subcritical Hopf and associated saddle-node bifurcation. This was followed by a sequence of two supercritical Hopf-type bifurcations, first to an amplitude vacillation, then to a three-frequency quasi-periodic modulated amplitude vacillation (MAV), and finally to a chaotic MAV\@. In the context of the baroclinic annulus this sequence is unusual as the vacillation is usually found on decrease of the rotation rate from the steady wave flow. Further transitions of a steady wave with a higher wave number pointed to the possibility that a barotropic instability of the side wall boundary layers and the subsequent breakdown of these barotropic vortices may play a role in the transition to structural vacillation and, ultimately, geostrophic turbulence.

physics.geo-ph↗