Convection in a fluid layer with asymmetric boundary conditions (Q4036335)

This paper examines the effect of asymmetric boundary conditions on convection in a horizontal fluid layer of uniform thickness with the temperatures at the upper and lower surfaces held fixed. The asymmetry is introduced by assuming a no-slip condition at the lower rigid boundary and a stress-free condition at the upper boundary. Utilizing the Boussinesq approximation, the authors employ a familiar Galerkin method to obtain, numerically, steady finite amplitude roll solutions for a wide range of Prandtl numbers. Discussion of the physical properties of the solutions is primarily focussed on the phenomenon of convective heat transport. The paper continues with a stability analysis of the steady convective rolls with respect to arbitrary three-dimensional infinitesimal disturbances, and the authors obtain the stability boundaries in the Rayleigh-number -- wave-number plane for a variety of Prandtl numbers. The relevant instabilities are found to be the same as those pertinent to the problem with two rigid boundaries, although the domain of stability for the present problem is found to be greater (smaller) at high (low) Prandtl numbers than for the two rigid boundary problems. In concluding the authors discuss some of the asymmetric properties of the convection rolls. This paper should be of interest to any researcher in convective instabilities.