Free convection-radiation interaction from an isothermal plate inclined at a small angle to the horizontal

Abstract

The interaction of free convection with thermal radiation in boundary layer flow from an inclined isothermal plate is studied numerically. Introducing appropriate transformations the equations governing the flow are expressed in the form of local nonsimilarity equations valid near the leading edge as well as in the downstream region. A group of transformations is also introduced such that the flow near the leading edge and far downstream can be described. Heated upward facing plates with positive and negative inclination angles are investigated. When the inclination is negative the boundary layer separates from the surface and the numerical solutions can be extended downstream past the point of separation. From the present investigation it may be concluded that the position of the separation point moves away from the leading edge with the increase of either of the thermal radiation parameter or the surface temperature parameter of the heated surface.