Study on flow patterns of oscillatory thermocapillary convection in floating half zone by PIV

Abstract

The velocity fields of oscillatory convection have been measured using the techniques ofParticle Image Velocimetry (PlY) in a liquid bridge of half floating zone with small typical scales of a few millimeters for emphasizing the thermocapillary effect in comparison with the effect of buoyancy. The flow patterns ofthe oscillatory flow have been studied experimentally in a liquid bridge. The flow patterns in the liquid bridge are classified with mode numbers according to oscillatory flow characteristics.Results ofthe experiment show that the mode depends on the aspect ratio as well as the volume ratio of the liquid bridge. The experimental results are helpful for studying the structure of flow at the onset of oscillatory thermocapillary convection in a liquid bridge.