In this work, we study the flow of magnetic fluids in a square top lid driven cavity in the presence of an applied magnetic field. The magnetic field is generated by a steady electric current flowing through a wire placed underneath the cavity. The magnetization of the magnetic fluid is described by an evolution equation that combines magnetization relaxation, advection and interaction with the flow via the vorticity. The governing equations are solved via a vorticity-streamfunction formulation implemented in a finite difference scheme. The main governing physical parameters of the examined cavity flow are the Reynolds number, ranging from 50 to 500, the magnetic pressure coefficient, which measures the relative importance between magnetic and inertial forces, ranging from 0 to 1000, and Péclet number which is O(1) and measures the ratio between the magnetization relaxation time and the flow time scale. We have examined the different mechanisms which cause changes in the local fluid magnetization, i.e., flow vorticity and advection. In particular, we examine how vorticity of the flow intensifies deviations of the magnetization of the fluid with respect to the local equilibrium of magnetization. In addition, we identify a complex topological structure of the flow inside the cavity characterized by the magnetic effects that dominate the generation of secondary structures of vorticity induced by the effect of field gradient, orientation and a non-uniformity in the fluid magnetization inside the cavity.
Read full abstract