Nonlinear Marangoni waves in a two-layer film in the presence of gravity

Longwave Marangoni convection in two-layer films under the action of gravity is considered. The analysis is carried out in the lubrication approximation. A linear stability analysis reveals the existence of monotonic and oscillatory instability modes, depending on the way of heating and the value of the Biot number. Numerical simulations are performed in the case of an oscillatory instability, which takes place by heating from above. Periodic boundary conditions are applied on the boundaries of the computational region. A sequence of nonlinear wavy regimes, which develop by the increase of the Galileo number, is studied. That sequence includes three-dimensional and two-dimensional structures. The multistability of wavy patterns with different spatial periods has been revealed. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3690167]