Marangoni Convection in a Thin Liquid Layer with an Inclined Temperature Gradient to the Free Surfac

Abstract

Existing studies of Marangoni convection are all concerned with the temperature gradient either parallel or vertical to the free surface. In the actual material processing, however, the temperature gradient may be inclined to the free surface. Thus, the Marangoni convection in a thin liquid layer with an inclined temperature gradient was investigated experimentally in the present study. The cellular motion which is well known in the Marangoni-Benard convection was observed over the whole surface at the early stage of the experiment. With elapse of time, the cellular pattern disappeared and a streak structure emerged. Four different flow patterns were observed depending on the magnitude of the vertical and parallel temperature gradients. Critical conditions for the occurrence of these flow patterns were obtained. Numerical simulation was performed and the cells and the streak structures were reproduced through the numerical analysis.