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Analysis of institutional authors

Sanchez, PsCorresponding AuthorPorter, JAuthorEzquerro, JmAuthorTinao, IAuthorLaveron-Simavilla, AAuthor

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June 6, 2022
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Pattern selection for thermocapillary flow in rectangular containers in microgravity

Publicated to: Physical Review Fluids. 7 (5): 053502- - 2022-05-09 7(5), DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevFluids.7.053502

Authors:

Salgado Sanchez, P; Salgado Sanchez, P; Porter, J; Porter, J; Ezquerro, J M; Ezquerro, J M; Tinao, I; Tinao, I; Laveron-Simavilla, A; Laveron-Simavilla, A
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Affiliations

Univ Politecn Madrid, E USOC, Ctr Computat Simulat, Escuela Tecn Super Ingn Aeronaut & Espacio, Plaza Cardenal Cisneros 3, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author

Abstract

A detailed numerical investigation of pattern selection for thermocapillary flow in rectangular containers in microgravity is presented. These dynamics are studied for liquid n-octadecane, an alkane with high Prandtl number (Pr = 52.53), due to its relevance to recent microgravity experiments. Pattern selection is analyzed in terms of the aspect ratio, I', and the applied Marangoni number, Ma. In short containers, the bifurcation picture is characterized by a transition from steady thermocapillary flow to a standing wave (SW) oscillatory mode as Ma is varied. This transition takes the form of a primary subcritical Hopf bifurcation accompanied by a secondary saddle node; these two bifurcations delimit a region of bistability. In large containers, the dynamics is characterized by a supercritical Hopf bifurcation that marks the transition from steady flow to a traveling wave (TW) mode. The critical Ma for this transition increases with I'. In intermediate containers, a complex pattern selection scenario is found, where both steady and oscillatory convection, in the form of either TWs or SWs, can appear depending on I' and Ma. Finally, we apply this bifurcation analysis to help explain recent results on thermocapillary flows during the melting of phase change materials in microgravity [Salgado S??nchez et al., A20 (2021)]. The temporal evolution of the phase change is characterized by an effective I' and Ma in the liquid phase. We find very good agreement between the flow transitions observed during melting and those predicted for the equivalent rectangular containers over the explored range of 1.5 I' 16.
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Keywords

CavityEnergy-storageFree-surfaceHeat-transfer enhancementMarangoni number convectionPhase-change materialsPrandtl numberSlow passageSteadyThermal-convection

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Physical Review Fluids due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2022, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Computational Mechanics. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 2.26. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 13, 2025)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.91 (source consulted: FECYT Mar 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2026-04-28, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 15
  • Scopus: 18
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-28:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 7 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/86894/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 159
  • Downloads: 65
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (SALGADO SANCHEZ, PABLO) and Last Author (LAVERON SIMAVILLA, ANA).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been SALGADO SANCHEZ, PABLO.

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Awards linked to the item

This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion under Project No. PID2020-115086GB-C31, and by the Spanish Support and Operations Centre (E-USOC), Center for Computational Simulation (CCS).
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