Similarity Solution of Unsteady Natural Convection Boundary Layer Flow above a Semi-infinite Porous Horizontal Plate with Suction and Blowing

Abstract

The present study deals with the similarity solutions of laminar boundary layer equations for the unsteady free convection flow over a heated horizontal semi-infinite porous plate. The Boussinesq approximation is employed firstly in order to simplify the governing boundary layer equations. Secondly, similarity requirements for an incompressible fluid are sought on the basis of detailed analysis in order to reduce the governing coupled partial differential equations into a set of ordinary differential equations. The influence of suction and blowing on the flow and temperature fields and other flow factors like skin friction and heat transfer coefficients are extensively investigated under different similarity cases. Sixth order R-K method is used to solved the simplified equations and the obtained numerical results are displayed graphically for some selected values of the controlling parameters provided by the similarity transformation. It is found that a small value of suction or blowing play a vital role on the patterns of flow and temperature fields as well as on the coefficients of skin friction and heat transfer and pressure distribution.