arXiv subjects

Thierry Alboussiere

Publications and source records attributed to Thierry Alboussiere.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

A playground for compressible natural convection with a nearly uniform density

In the quest to understand the basic universal features of compressible convection, one would like to disentangle genuine consequences of compression from spatial variations of transport properties. In the present work, we consider a very peculiar equation of state, whereby entropy is solely dependent on density, so that a nearly isentropic fluid domain is nearly isochoric. Within this class of equations of state, there is a thermal adiabatic gradient and a key property of compressible convection is still present, namely its capacity to viscously dissipate a large fraction of the thermal energy involved, of the order of the well-named dissipation number. In a series of anelastic approximations, under the assumption of an infinite Prandtl number, the number of governing parameters can be brought down to two, the Rayleigh number and the dissipation number. This framework is proposed as a playground for compressible convection, an opportunity to extend the vast corpus of theoretical analyses on the Oberbeck-Boussinesq equations regarding stability, bifurcations or the determination of upper bounds for the turbulent heat transfer. Here, in a two-dimensional geometry, we concentrate on the structure of upward and downward plumes depending on the dissipation number, on the heat flux dependence on the dissipation number and on the ratio of dissipation to convective heat flux. For dissipation numbers of order unity, in the limit of large Rayleigh numbers, dissipation becomes related to the entropy heat flux at each depth, so that the vertical dissipation profile can be predicted, and consequently so does the total ratio of dissipation to convective heat flux.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2020

Dynamo action in sliding plates of anisotropic electrical conductivity

With materials of anisotropic electrical conductivity, it is possible to generate a dynamo with a simple velocity field, of the type precluded by Cowling's theorems with isotropic materials. Following a previous study by Ruderman and Ruzmaikin [1] who considered the dynamo effect induced by a uniform shear flow, we determine the conditions for the dynamo threshold when a solid plate is sliding over another one, both with anisotropic electrical conductivity. We obtain numerical solutions for a general class of anisotropy and obtain the conditions for the lowest magnetic Reynolds number, using a collocation Chebyshev method. In a particular geometry of anisotropy and wavenumber, we also derive an analytical solution, where the eigenvectors are just combinations of four exponential functions. An explicit analytical expression is obtained for the critical magnetic Reynold number. Above the critical magnetic Reynold number, we have also derived an analytical expression for the growth rate showing that this is a 'very fast' dynamo, extrapolating on the 'slow' and 'fast' terminology introduced by Vainshtein and Zeldovich [2].

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2019

Reflections on dissipation associated with thermal convection

This paper was originally published in June 2013 in JFM (vol. 725). There was one result concerning an expression of viscous dissipation in convective flows and a second result on the condition of applicability of the anelastic liquid equation ($γ- 1 \ll 1$). We then found that this second result was wrong and the explanation why this is so was published as a corrigendum in July 2014 in JFM (vol. 751). In a few words, the origin of the error is that we have derived an expression for dissipation in the framework of the exact equations and subsequently used it in the framework of the anelastic models. Here we have included the original article, followed by its corrigendum.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2016

Rayleigh-Benard stability and the validity of quasi-Boussinesq or quasi-anelastic liquid approximations

The linear stability threshold of the Rayleigh-Benard configuration is analyzed with compressible effects taken into account. It is assumed that the fluid obeys a Newtonian rheology and Fourier's law of thermal transport with constant, uniform (dynamic) viscosity and thermal conductivity in a uniform gravity field. Top and bottom boundaries are maintained at different constant temperatures and we consider here boundary conditions of zero tangential stress and impermeable walls. Under these conditions, and with the Boussinesq approximation, Rayleigh (1916) first obtained analytically the critical value 27pi^4/4 for a dimensionless parameter, now known as the Rayleigh number, at the onset of convection. This manuscript describes the changes of the critical Rayleigh number due to the compressibility of the fluid, measured by the dimensionless dissipation parameter D and due to a finite temperature difference between the hot and cold boundaries, measured by a dimensionless temperature gradient a. Different equations of state are examined: ideal gas equation, Murnaghan's model and a generic equation of state, which can represent any possible equation of state. We also consider two variations of this stability analysis. In a so-called quasi-Boussinesq model, we consider that density perturbations are solely due to temperature perturbations. In a so-called quasi-anelastic liquid approximation, we consider that entropy perturbations are solely due to temperature perturbations. In addition to the numerical Chebyshev-based stability analysis, an analytical approximation is obtained when temperature fluctuations are written as a combination of only two modes. This analytical expression allows us to show that the superadiabatic critical Rayleigh number quadratic departure in a and D from 27pi^4/4 involves the expansion of density up to the degree three in terms of pressure and temperature.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2012

Melting-induced stratification above the Earth's inner core due to convective translation

In addition to its global North-South anisotropy(1), there are two other enigmatic seismological observations related to the Earth's inner core: asymmetry between its eastern and western hemispheres(2-6) and the presence of a layer of reduced seismic velocity at the base of the outer core(6-12). This 250-km-thick layer has been interpreted as a stably stratified region of reduced composition in light elements(13). Here we show that this layer can be generated by simultaneous crystallization and melting at the surface of the inner core, and that a translational mode of thermal convection in the inner core can produce enough melting and crystallization on each hemisphere respectively for the dense layer to develop. The dynamical model we propose introduces a clear asymmetry between a melting and a crystallizing hemisphere which forms a basis for also explaining the East-West asymmetry. The present translation rate is found to be typically 100 million years for the inner core to be entirely renewed, which is one to two orders of magnitude faster than the growth rate of the inner core's radius. The resulting strong asymmetry of buoyancy flux caused by light elements is anticipated to have an impact on the dynamics of the outer core and on the geodynamo.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2011

Experimental evidence of Alfvén wave propagation in a Gallium alloy

Experiments with a liquid metal alloy, galinstan, are reported and show clear evidence of Alfvén wave propagation as well as resonance of Alfvén modes. Galinstan is liquid at room temperature, and although its electrical conductivity is not as large as that of liquid sodium or NaK, it has still been possible to study Alfvén waves, thanks to the use of intense magnetic fi elds, up to 13 teslas. The maximal values of Lundquist number, around 60, are similar to that of the reference experimental study by Jameson [1]. The generation mechanism for Alfvén waves and their refl ection is studied carefully. Numerical simulations have been performed and have been able to reproduce the experimental results despite the fact that the simulated magnetic Prandtl number was much larger than that of galinstan. An originality of the present study is that a poloidal disturbance (magnetic and velocity fields) is generated, allowing us to track its propagation from outside the conducting domain, hence without interfering.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2009

Bound of dissipation on a plane Couette dynamo

Variational turbulence is among the few approaches providing rigorous results in turbulence. In addition, it addresses a question of direct practical interest, namely the rate of energy dissipation. Unfortunately, only an upper bound is obtained as a larger functional space than the space of solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations is searched. Yet, in general, this upper bound is in good agreement with experimental results in terms of order of magnitude and power law of the imposed Reynolds number. In this paper, the variational approach to turbulence is extended to the case of dynamo action and an upper bound is obtained for the global dissipation rate (viscous and Ohmic). A simple plane Couette flow is investigated. For low magnetic Prandtl number $P_m$ fluids, the upper bound of energy dissipation is that of classical turbulence (i.e. proportional to the cubic power of the shear velocity) for magnetic Reynolds numbers below $P_m^{-1}$ and follows a steeper evolution for magnetic Reynolds numbers above $P_m^{-1}$ (i.e. proportional to the shear velocity to the power four) in the case of electrically insulating walls. However, the effect of wall conductance is crucial : for a given value of wall conductance, there is a value for the magnetic Reynolds number above which energy dissipation cannot be bounded. This limiting magnetic Reynolds number is inversely proportional to the square root of the conductance of the wall. Implications in terms of energy dissipation in experimental and natural dynamos are discussed.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2008

Rapidly rotating spherical Couette flow in a dipolar magnetic field: an experimental study of the mean axisymmetric flow

In order to explore the magnetostrophic regime expected for planetary cores, experiments have been conducted in a rotating sphere filled with liquid sodium, with an imposed dipolar magnetic field (the DTS setup). The field is produced by a permanent magnet enclosed in an inner sphere, which can rotate at a separate rate, producing a spherical Couette flow. The flow properties are investigated by measuring electric potentials on the outer sphere, the induced magnetic field in the laboratory frame, and velocity profiles inside the liquid sodium using ultrasonic Doppler velocimetry. The present article focuses on the time-averaged axisymmetric part of the flow. The Doppler profiles show that the angular velocity of the fluid is relatively uniform in most of the fluid shell, but rises near the inner sphere, revealing the presence of a magnetic wind, and gently drops towards the outer sphere. The transition from a magnetostrophic flow near the inner sphere to a geostrophic flow near the outer sphere is controlled by the local Elsasser number. For Rossby numbers up to order 1, the observed velocity profiles all show a similar shape. Numerical simulations in the linear regime are computed, and synthetic velocity profiles are compared with the measured ones. In the geostrophic region, a torque-balance model provides very good predictions. We find that the induced magnetic field varies in a consistent fashion, and displays a peculiar peak in the counter-rotating regime. This happens when the fluid rotation rate is almost equal and opposite to the outer sphere rotation rate. The fluid is then almost at rest in the laboratory frame, and the Proudman-Taylor constraint vanishes, enabling a strong meridional flow. We suggest that dynamo action might be favored in such a situation.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2005

A geostrophic-like model for large Hartmann number flows

A flow of electrically conducting fluid in the presence of a steady magnetic field has a tendency to become quasi two-dimensional, i.e. uniform in the direction of the magnetic field, except in thin so-called Hartmann boundary layers. The condition for this tendency is that of a strong magnetic field, corresponding to large values of the dimensionless Hartmann number (Ha >> 1). This is analogous to the case of low Ekman number rotating flows, with Ekman layers replacing Hartmann layers. This has been at the origin of the homogeneous model for flows in a rotating frame of reference, with its rich structure: geostrophic contours and shear layers of Stewartson, Munk and Stommel. In magnetohydrodynamics, the characteristic surfaces introduced by Kulikovskii play a role similar to the role of the geostrophic contours. However, a general theory for quasi two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics is lacking. In this paper, a model is proposed which provides a general framework for quasi two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flows. Not only can this model account for otherwise disconnected past results, but it is also used to predict a new type of shear layer, of typical thickness Ha^{-1/4}.

physics.flu-dyn↗