OBSERVATIONS ON SOME MULTI-LIQUID LAYER PROBLEMS IN CONVECTION

Abstract

The main result from our calculation is that the solid thickness of the lower phase does not affect the flow structure at '1 g' but does affect the flow at low gravity levels. In other words the coupling is only one-way at hi'gh gravity. We surmise that even though the solid thickness destabilizes the flow, it is insignificant compared to the overwhelming stabilization of gravity. As a result of our calculations it appears that liquid encapsulated crystal growth is better conducted under earth's gravity conditions as the configuration would be more stable. In summary, we may state that the specific mode into which the convective state settles largely depends on the type of system that is studied but we can predict the sequential change in modes as certain key parameters such as gravity level, total depths and depth ratios are changed.