Thermocapillary convection in liquid bridges: Solution structure and eddy motions

The steady thermocapillary convection in a cylindrical liquid bridge is considered in the absence of gravitational forces. The field equations are simplified by setting the Marangoni and Reynolds numbers equal to zero and the relative change in the surface tension is assumed to be very small, i.e., the appropriate capillary number is much less than unity. For suitable aspect ratios, there is a transition from a pattern of vortices determined by the applied surface temperature gradient to those of Moffatt type in the interior of the fluid. If the bridge is rotated, the equations can be modified by Coriolis terms but the parameter values are such that rotational effects tend to dominate the motion.