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Updated: Feb 2, 2026
06:42
Magnetically Induced Rotating Rayleigh-Taylor Instability
Published on: March 3, 2017
10.1K
Dynamic stabilization of the Rayleigh-Bénard instability by acceleration modulation.
Anand Swaminathan1, Steven L Garrett2, Matthew E Poese3
1Graduate Program in Acoustics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|November 9, 2018
Summary
This study shows that vertical vibration can suppress convection in fluids, a key finding for improving thermoacoustic machines. This parametric stabilization prevents performance issues in devices like refrigerators and chillers.
Area of Science:
- Fluid Dynamics
- Thermodynamics
- Acoustics
Background:
- Rayleigh-Bénard convection can negatively impact the efficiency of thermoacoustic devices.
- Convective instability is a suspected cause of performance issues in traveling wave thermoacoustic refrigerators and cryogenic pulse tube chillers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate the parametric stabilization of Rayleigh-Bénard convection using sinusoidal vibration.
- To determine the conditions (vibratory, fluidic, geometric) for stabilizing statically unstable fluids in rectangular containers via vertical vibration.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a custom-designed, large-displacement kinematic shaker for vertical vibration.
- Employed thermal transport measurements and laser-based flow visualization with tracer particles to characterize fluid behavior.
- Compared experimental results with computational methods by R. M. Carbo.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the suppression of convection in a small, rectangular container through vertical vibration.
- Identified specific vibratory, fluidic, and geometric parameters influencing stabilization.
Conclusions:
- Vertical vibration offers a method for dynamically stabilizing Rayleigh-Bénard convection.
- This technique has potential applications in enhancing the performance and efficiency of thermoacoustic machines.
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