Similarity solution for free and forced convection hydromagnetic flow over a horizontal semi-infinite plate through a non-homogeneous porous medium

Abstract

A similarity analysis for the free and forced convection hydromagnetic flow over a horizontal semi-infinite flat plate through a non-homogeneous porous medium is presented, taking into account the hydrostatic pressure variation normal to the flat plate. The similarity solution of the problem under consideration is obtained under certain valid simplifying assumptions when, (i) the plate temperature is inversely proportional to the square root of the distance from the leading edge, (ii) the intensity of the applied magnetic field, normal to the plate, changes with the inverse square root of the distance from the leading edge, and (iii) the permeability of the porous medium, occupying a semi-infinite region of the space bounded by the flat plate, is proportional to the distance measured in the direction of the flow. A numerical solution of the resulting system of ordinary differential equations of motion and energy is obtained, depending on the Prandtl number Pr, the magnetic parameterMn,the bouyancy parameter λ, and the permeability parameterPm.The variations of the fundamental quantities of the problem are shown graphically followed by a quantitative discussion.