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Thermocapillary convection flows near a suddenly heated vertical wire

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 December 2025

Xinyuan Meng ,
Enhui Chen Open the ORCID record for Enhui Chen [Opens in a new window]  and
Feng Xu Open the ORCID record for Feng Xu [Opens in a new window]
Xinyuan Meng
Affiliation:
School of Physical Science and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, PR China
Enhui Chen*
Affiliation:
School of Physical Science and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, PR China
Feng Xu*
Affiliation:
School of Physical Science and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, PR China
*
Corresponding authors: Feng Xu, fxu@bjtu.edu.cn; Enhui Chen, ehchen@bjtu.edu.cn
Corresponding authors: Feng Xu, fxu@bjtu.edu.cn; Enhui Chen, ehchen@bjtu.edu.cn
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Abstract

Transient thermocapillary convection flows near a suddenly heated vertical wire are widely present in nature and industrial systems. The current study investigates the dynamical evolution and heat transfer for these transient flows near a suddenly heated vertical wire, employing scaling analysis and axisymmetric numerical simulation methodologies. Scaling analysis indicates that there exist four possible scenarios of the dynamical evolution and heat transfer for these transient flows, dependent on the wire curvature, Marangoni number and Prandtl number. In a typical scenario of the dynamical evolution and heat transfer, heat is first conducted into the fluid after sudden heating, resulting in an annular vertical thermal boundary layer around the wire. The radial temperature gradient may generate a thermocapillary force on the liquid surface, dragging the liquid away from the wire. The pressure gradient also drives a vertical flow along the wire. Further, the current study analyses and derives the scaling laws of the velocity, thickness and Nusselt number for the surface and vertical flows in different scenarios. Additionally, a number of two-dimensional axisymmetric numerical simulations are performed. The flow structure around the suddenly heated vertical wire is characterised under different regimes and the validation for the proposed scaling laws in comparison with numerical results is presented.

JFM classification

Convection: Marangoni convection Drops and Bubbles: Thermocapillarity Boundary Layers: Boundary Layers

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Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1025 , 25 December 2025 , A6
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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