Influence of liquid bridge volume on the onset of oscillation in floating-zone convection III. Three-dimensional model

An unsteady and three-dimensional model of the floating-half-zone convection on the ground is studied by the direct numerical simulation for the medium of 10 cSt silicon oil, and the influence of the liquid bridge volume on the critical applied temperature difference is especially discussed. The marginal curves for the onset of oscillation are separated into two branches related, respectively, to the slender liquid bridge and the fat liquid bridge. The oscillatory features of the floating-half-zone convection are also discussed.