FREE-CONVECTION IN LABORATORY MODELS

"The spontaneous transition of non-equilibrium systems from non-patterned to patterned states" (Chadam, 1988) is a phenomenon commonly seen in laboratory models, where fundamental concepts in convection and crystallization are studied in aqueous solutions. Examples are given of structure arising due to the action of free convection in initially homogeneous or simply stratified systems. Examples include stratification of the liquid in the "filling box" process, double-diffusive convection, and patterning in the solid state produced during the melting and solidification of a multicomponent liquid. The applications of the experiments will be briefly mentioned. © 1990.