Flow Visualization and Pattern Dynamics in Be´nard-Marangoni Convection

The aim of this experimental work is to study the pattern dynamics in the Be´nard-Marangoni convection. The free surface deformation fields were visualized by interferometry and the temperature fields by infrared thermography. The influence of the aspect ratio, Rayleigh, Biot and Prandtl numbers, was considered. More dynamics are found to be induced by increasing the Biot number. Conversely, increasing the Prandtl number reduces the dynamics. The deformation magnitude and the wavenumber increase as functions of the gradient of temperature. Two behaviours of the deformation, as a function of Prandtl and Biot numbers, were observed, depending on the value of the gradient of temperature.