Accuracy and nonuniqueness aspects of numerical solutions of some natural convection problems (Q5961823)

We examine the source of machine and mesh sensitivity and the effect of initial perturbations on the onset and development of natural convection in fluids with unstable density stratification due either to thermal or solutal gradients. Numerical simulations are presented for two problems: the liquid phase epitaxial process used to grow semiconducting crystals, and the Rayleigh-Bénard problem. The simulations are performed by solving the unsteady form of the momentum equations in their stream-function vorticity form coupled with the unsteady scalar (temperature or solute) transport equation. The higher than usual mesh and round-off error sensitivity exhibited by the numerical solutions of these buoyancy-driven flows is investigated by comparing high resolution solutions on different machines and solutions on different meshes.