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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
06:42
Magnetically Induced Rotating Rayleigh-Taylor Instability
Published on: March 3, 2017
Thermovibrational instability in supercritical fluids under weightlessness
1LPMI-Arts et Métiers ParisTech, 2 Bd du Ronceray B.P., 93525, 49035 Angers, France. sakir.amiroudine@angers.ensam.fr
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|October 15, 2008
Summary
Low amplitude vibrations induce gravity-like behaviors in weightless supercritical fluids. A numerical study reveals this thermovibrational instability, showing fingering patterns that depend on temperature proximity to the critical point.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Thermodynamics
- Space physics
Background:
- Supercritical fluids exhibit universal behavior and are sensitive to gravity.
- Vibrations can mimic gravitational effects in fluids under weightlessness.
- Previous experiments observed Rayleigh-Bénard-like instability in H2 and CO2 under vibration in space.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically investigate the thermovibrational instability in supercritical CO2 under weightlessness.
- To characterize the fingering pattern and its relation to the vibrational Rayleigh number.
- To compare simulation results with simplified theoretical analysis.
Main Methods:
- A two-dimensional numerical simulation using the finite volume method.
- Systematic study of supercritical CO2 under vibration.
- Analysis of thermal boundary layer behavior and fingering instability.
Main Results:
- A thermovibrational instability was identified as the cause of the observed fingering pattern.
- The fingering wavelength and vibrational Rayleigh number decrease with temperature distance from the critical point.
- Simulation exponents differed slightly from theoretical predictions due to analysis oversimplification.
Conclusions:
- Vibrations induce complex behaviors in supercritical fluids, mimicking gravitational effects.
- The fingering instability is quantifiable and linked to fluid properties near the critical point.
- Further theoretical and numerical investigation is needed to fully understand the phenomenon.
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