LIMITATION OF BOUNDARY-LAYER ANALYSES FOR BUOYANT CONVECTION IN STABLY STRATIFIED FLUIDS

Vertical buoyant convection in stably stratified fluids is revisited T he limitation of boundary layer analyses for such flows is quantified. This is accomplished by comparing the results of the present boundary layer numerical study with the published experimental measurements, a nd full numerical simulations. It is shown that boundary layer analysi s underpredicts the heat transfer rates. This is explained with refere nce to the flow and thermal fields. The boundary layer results are sho wn to be inadequate for such characteristics as flow reversal and temp erature defects. The underlying physical mechanisms are discussed.