Laboratory for Flow Control-Fluid mechanics experiment for science & technology-

Natural convection

Natural convection is one of the fundamental flow systems dominating large scale flows that can be observed in natura and industries. Variety of flow patterns created by very slow flows, O(1 mm/s), contains multiple physics and provides important physical insight to understand phenomenon. We have investigated different types of the convections, such as convections induced by internal heat generation [1], Rayleigh-Bénard convection (RBC) in a liquid metal layer [2], RBC imposed by a horizontal magnetic field [3], and RBC with background rotation [4]. Recent interest is horizontal convection, which is driven by baroclinic torque due to horizontal temperature gradient [5], and its effect on RBC. We mainly have performed experimental approach to these problems with development of flow measurement techniques, such as PIV/PTV, ultrasonic Doppler velocimetry (UDV; or ultrasonic velocity profiling, UVP), and thermochromic liquid crystals. Large part of the project is collaborated with geoscience group, JAMSTEC.

1. Tasaka & Takeda, Intl. J. Heat & Mass Trans., Vol. 84, pp. 1164-1174 (2005)
2. Yanagisawa et al. Phys. Rev. E, Vol. 82, 016320 (2010)
3. Tasaka et al. J. Fluid Mech., Vol. 911, A19 (2021)
4.  Noto et al. J. Fluid Mech., Vol. 911, A43 (2021)
5. Noto et al. Phys. Rev Fluid, Vol. 6, 083501 (2021)