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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Thermocapillary Convection Space Experiment on the SJ-10 Recoverable Satellite
Published on: March 11, 2020
Three-dimensional flow instabilities in a thermocapillary-driven cavity.
1Institute of Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria. h.kuhlmann@tuwien.ac.at
Buoyant-thermocapillary flow instabilities in open cavities are driven by shear layer lift-up mechanisms, not directly by buoyancy. Marangoni forces become more significant with increasing aspect ratios.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Heat transfer
- Hydrodynamics
Background:
- Buoyant-thermocapillary flow in open rectangular cavities is a complex phenomenon.
- Understanding flow instabilities is crucial for various engineering applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a linear stability analysis of buoyant-thermocapillary flow.
- To investigate the role of aspect ratio and Marangoni forces in flow instabilities.
Main Methods:
- Linear stability analysis was performed.
- Simulations covered aspect ratios from Gamma=1.2 to 8 for Prandtl number Pr=10.
- Comparison with existing experimental data was made.
Main Results:
- Results show good agreement with experimental data.
- Buoyancy is not the direct cause of instabilities; a lift-up mechanism in the shear layer is key.
- For aspect ratios < 3, stationary 3D cellular flow emerges, aided by weak Marangoni forces.
- For larger aspect ratios, Marangoni effects become more dominant.
Conclusions:
- Flow instabilities are primarily driven by shear layer dynamics and Marangoni effects.
- The influence of Marangoni forces increases with aspect ratio.
- Nonparallel basic-flow structure significantly impacts instability at intermediate aspect ratios.
