Effects of variable heat source on convective motion in an anisotropic porous layer

Abstract

The onset of convective motion in a fluid saturated anisotropic porous medium layer is examined analytically in the occurrence of the qualitative effect of the source of variable internal heat. Three different kinds of heat source functions: (i) N (z) = z (linear) (ii)N(z) = z2 (parabolic) and (iii) N (z) = z 3 (cubic) are considered. The resulting eigenvalue problem was analytically solved using regular perturbation technique. A parametric study is carried out by varying the following parameters: the heat source parameter (X), thermal anisotropy parameter(n), and mechanical anisotropy parameter(ξ). Results indicates that the effects of the increasing values of λ and ξ will enhance the convection of a anisotropic porous layer system while the increasing of n will help to stabilize the system. It is also noted that for case (iii) the system is more stable, while for case (i) the system is more unstable