Numerical modeling of a 3-D buoyancy driven convective flow

The focus of this thesis is the solution of the Boussinesq approximation of the Navier-Stokes equations in order to determine the convective flow fields of an incompressible fluid in a small rectangular cuvette. The problem is a mathematical simulation of a physical problem dealing with photo deposition of a nonlinear optical crystal material from solution onto a substrate in microgravity. The temperature gradients and corresponding convective flows which arise during the photodeposition process can detrimentally influence the quality of the film deposited. An exact solution to the problem is unachievable. A finite element method was employed to solve the complete problem.The development of the method applied is given, and the results from the computations provided. It was determined that the finite element solution presented provides the information necessary to confirm the validity of the model, and accurate predictions of convective flow of similar geometry in microgravity can be made.