Existence and Structure of Steady Solutions of the Bénard Problem in a Two Dimensional Quadrangular Cavity

We prove the existence of a strong-weak solution (u,p,T) (= velocity, pressure, temperature) of the steady Bénard problem in a 2D quadrangular cavity, heated/cooled on two opposite sides and thermally insulated on the other sides. Applying the tools of nonlinear analysis, we study the structure of the set of solutions in dependence on the acting volume force and on the given temperature profiles on the heated/cooled sides. Particularly, in the case when the cavity has the form of a trapezoid, we also study the structure of the solution set in dependence on the angle of inclination from the horizontal-vertical position. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.