Isotherms in a horizontal differentially heated cavity at intermediate Rayleigh numbers

Rayleigh-Benard convection in a horizontal, differentially heated, high aspect ratio fluid layer is considered. Experiments with three Rayleigh numbers (13900, 34800 and 51800) corresponding to different Row regimes have been performed. The temperature field in the fluid has been recorded in the form of interferometric projections, the fringe patterns representing isotherms. For steady and quasi-steady flow, the three dimensional temperature field has been obtained using an iterative algebraic reconstruction technique. Results show the formation of longitudinal rolls in the cavity at a Rayleigh number of 13900. The flow is unsteady at a Rayleigh number of 34800, but a strong indication of the formation of cubic rolls is seen. At a Rayleigh number of 51800, the flow field is completely unsteady with no discernible pattern. The local ray-averaged Nusselt numbers at each of the heated and cooled walls have been determined at the two lower Rayleigh numbers. The systematic variation of Nusselt number over each of the solid surfaces confirms the flow models proposed at these Rayleigh numbers. The average Nusselt number qualitatively matches the published correlations. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.