Transient Free Convection MHD Flow Past an Accelerated Vertical Plate with Periodic Temperature

Abstract

A theoretical model is performed to study the effect of magnetic field on transient free convection flow of an electrically conducting fluid past an accelerated vertical plate with periodic temperature. The governing momentum and energy equations are solved numerically using a full implicit finite difference method. An analytical solution using eigenfunction expansion method is carried out for temperature profile in case of constant plate temperature. The results are compared with the numerical ones and a good agreement is achieved.
The effect of different physical parameters on the transient velocity and temperature, such as Grashof’s number, magnetic parameter, Prandtl number and temperature frequency is studied. It is found that the velocity increases with increase in Gr and t, while it decreases with increase in Pr and M. It is found also that the periodicity of the plate temperature does not affect the velocity profile.