Abstract
The Rayleigh-Benard convection is simulated numerically using the lattice Boltzmann method. Parallel calculations are performed and flow patterns are observed in a rectangular box with an aspect ratio ranging from 2 : 2 : 1 to 6 : 6 : 1. The heat transfer rate is estimated in terms of the Nusselt number. The dependency of the Nusselt number on the Rayleigh number is shown to agree well with that obtained by the two-dimensional calculations of the Navier-Stokes equations. It is found that several roll patterns are possible and the heat transfer rate changes according to the flow pattern.
