Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study numerically investigates how the intensity and spatial position of a non-uniform heat source at the lower boundary influence the formation, structure, and evolution of thermoconvective vortices in a rotating Rayleigh–Bénard system under laminar conditions. We first analyze how temporal variations in the heat source intensity and extent affect the strength of a stationary vortex, explaining its intensification through a force-balance analysis. The response of the vortex to a moving heat source is also examined, showing that the it follows the displacement of the source. Introducing a second heat spot reveals several possible flow regimes depending on the separation distance: the persistence of a single vortex, the coexistence of two interacting vortices, or the emergence of an independent secondary vortex. This behavior is interpreted using the Q-criterion, which distinguishes rotational from deformational components of the flow. By varying the heat source intensity and the ambient rotation, we construct a bifurcation diagram that captures the transition from stationary vortices to periodic vortical structures, including double-vortex configurations. Finally, we analyze how changes in heat source intensity and position affect the dynamics of these periodic states.
Source: Physics of Fluids
DOI: 10.1063/5.0316139
Authors: J. Cortés, D. Castaño, M. C. Navarro
Institution: University of Castilla-La Mancha
Language: English
Subfield: Computational Mechanics
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7152016615