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Complex Dynamics in a Stratified Lid-Driven Cavity Flow

Paige Weisman, Narges Masoumi, Ke Wu

Abstract

The dynamic response to shear of a fluid-filled square cavity with stable temperature stratification is investigated numerically.The shear is imposed by a constant velocity on the top lid, which is quantified by associated Reynolds number Re=2750. The stratification, quantified by a Richardson number, is imposed by maintaining the temperature of the top lid at a higher constant temperature than that of the bottom and the sidewalls are insulating. The Navier-Stokes equations under the Boussinesq approximation are solved, using a pseudospectral collocation method, over a wide range of Richardson numbers. Particular attention is paid to the dynamical mechanism associated with the onset of instability of steady state solutions, and to the complex and rich dynamics occurring beyond.