The onset of convection in the Rayleigh-Bénard problem for compressible fluids (Q5929793)

Based on qualitative considerations which involve the stationary and the adiabatic density gradient, the author determines a critical condition for instability in the Rayleigh-Bénard problem for compressible fluids. The numerical results of linear stability analysis for the liquids (water, mercury and diethylether), and for gas (argon), all considered as compressible viscous heat-conducting materials obeying the complete Navier-Stokes-Fourier equations for Newtonian fluids, are compared with the analogous results in the existing literature. It is found that for thin layer, the critical Rayleigh number approaches asymptotically the constant Boussinesq value, while for thicker layer, it deviates strongly from this constant value. It is also found that the critical wave number leading to the onset of instability seems to be unique even for compressible fluids, in accordance with known results.