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Particle dynamics and dune formation in Rayleigh–Bénard convection: a particle-resolved simulation study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2025

Xianyang Chen Open the ORCID record for Xianyang Chen [Opens in a new window] ,
Rodolfo Ostilla-Mónico Open the ORCID record for Rodolfo Ostilla-Mónico [Opens in a new window] ,
Daniel Floryan Open the ORCID record for Daniel Floryan [Opens in a new window] ,
Myoungkyu Lee Open the ORCID record for Myoungkyu Lee [Opens in a new window]  and
Andrea Prosperetti Open the ORCID record for Andrea Prosperetti [Opens in a new window]
Xianyang Chen*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
Rodolfo Ostilla-Mónico
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Diseño Industrial, Escuela Superior de Ingeniería, Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real 11519, Spain
Daniel Floryan*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
Myoungkyu Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
Andrea Prosperetti
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede 7500 AE, The Netherlands Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
*
Corresponding authors: Xianyang Chen, tomchen95@tongji.edu.cn; Daniel Floryan, dfloryan@uh.edu
Corresponding authors: Xianyang Chen, tomchen95@tongji.edu.cn; Daniel Floryan, dfloryan@uh.edu
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Abstract

This paper presents numerical results for Rayleigh–Bénard convection with suspended particles at Rayleigh numbers $Ra=10^7$ and $10^8$, and unit Prandtl number. Accounting for their finite size makes it possible to investigate in detail the mechanism by which the particles, which are 10 % heavier than the fluid, get resuspended after settling, thus maintaining a two-phase circulating flow. It is shown that an essential component of this mechanism is the formation of particle accumulations, or ‘dunes’, on the bottom of the Rayleigh–Bénard cell. Ascending plumes become localised on these dunes. Particles are dragged up the dune slopes, and when they reach the top, are entrained into the rising plumes. Direct resuspension of particles from the cell bottom, if it happens at all, is very rare. For $Ra=10^7$, aspect ratios (width/height) $\Gamma =1,2,4$ are considered. It is found that in these and in the other cases simulated, at steady state, a single dune evolves, the largest linear dimension of which is comparable to the cell size. A remarkable consequence is that even at the low volume fraction considered here, 3.27 %, the particles are able to structure the flow and to determine the size and position of the largest ascending plumes. Their effect on the Nusselt number, however, remains small. This and other results are explained on the basis of the ratio of the cell-bottom viscous boundary-layer thickness to the particle diameter.

JFM classification

Multiphase and Particle-laden Flows: Particle/fluid flow

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JFM Papers
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Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1016 , 10 August 2025 , A67
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Supplementary material: File

Chen et al. supplementary movie 1

The right frame displays the 3D particle configuration for the case with Ra=107, Pr=1 and Γ=4, where only warm particles ((Tp-T0)/(Th-Tc)≥ 0.0625) are shown and color-coded according to their temperatures. Red represents hotter particles, while blue indicates relatively cooler ones. Note that the apparent disappearance of particles near the top wall occurs because the particles are discarded as long as their temperatures drop below the threshold when they approach the top wall. The left frame illustrates the vertical velocity contour on a horizontal plane located 1.25dp above the bottom plate, along with particles sit between this plane and the bottom wall, corresponding to the same case as depicted in the right frame. In the contour, yellow and purple denote ascending and descending plumes, respectively. Meanwhile, the particles are colored based on their temperatures, with yellow representing hot particles and blue representing cooler ones.
Download Chen et al. supplementary movie 1(File)
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