Rayleigh-Bénard Convection

Thermal Convection Cells

Grid: 0×0
Ra/Ra_c: 1.0 (Ra_c ≈ 1708)
Nusselt Number: 1.00
Max Velocity: 0.00
FPS: 0
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Rayleigh-Bénard Convection

When a fluid layer is heated from below, thermal expansion creates buoyancy. Above the critical Rayleigh number (Ra_c ≈ 1708), convection cells form with alternating up and down flows. This creates the characteristic "roll" pattern seen in atmospheric clouds and the sun's surface.