UNSTEADY MHD FLOW BETWEEN TWO HORIZONTAL PARALLEL SEMI-INFINITE POROUS PLATES

Abstract

This study investigated unsteady MHD flow of an incompressible fluid through horizontal semi-infinite porous plates. A variable magnetic field was applied normal to the flow. The flow was assumed to occur along the positive x direction between two parallel horizontal plates stationed at y = ± L planes. Effects of different flow parameters were investigated when the lower plate was impulsively started in the positive x direction at a uniform velocity while the upper plate was kept stationary. The coupled non-linear partial differential equations governing the flow were first non-dimensionalised then solved using the finite difference method. The results obtained were presented in tables and graphs. It was noted that an increase in magnetic field intensity causes a decrease in both the primary and secondary velocity profiles.

Key Words: MHD, Vorticity, Unsteady flow.