The Onset and Development of Thermal Convection in Fully Developed Shear Flows

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the onset and development of thermal convection in fully developed shear flows. The subject of thermal convection in shear flows is rich in results that have both basic interest and practical importance in science and engineering. Although the field has matured greatly during the part 15 years, many topics still need study. For instance, the effects of channel sidewalls on both the initial instability and the instability of longitudinal rolls need to be clarified both theoretically and experimentally. More effort should be devoted to the use of controlled disturbances in studying the onset of instability due to the convective nature of the instability. Such studies might prove useful also in suggesting how turbulent convection can be promoted or postponed in shear flows. This chapter presents an in-depth account of the basic concepts and of some of the major results that have occurred during the past 15 years. It focuses primarily on simple basic states involving a Boussinesq fluid and fully developed forced flows, mainly of the Couette or Poiseuille type. The chapter also provides some references to similar phenomena in other basic flows, for example, when the basic flow itself is due to natural (or “free”) convection.