A tutorial on the Rayleigh-Marangoni-Benard problem with multiple layers and side wall effects

A brief review in the form of a tutorial is presented on convective instabi lities that arise from thermocapillary and buoyancy effects. This tutorial primarily focuses on the effect of multiple layers and side walls on the na ture of the convective flows and associated patterns. A comprehensive expla nation of the physics of this type of convection is followed by a discussio n of the mathematical features of bifurcation associated with the problem a nd some of the recent experimental studies. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S1054-1500(99)02601-4].