On a family of differential equations for boundary layer approximations in porous media

Abstract

Free convection along a vertical flat plate embedded in a porous medium is considered, within the framework of boundary layer approximations. In some cases, similarity solutions can be obtained by solving a boundary value problem involving an autonomous third-order nonlinear equation, depending on a parameter related to the temperature on the wall. The paper deals with existence and uniqueness questions to this problem, for every value of the parameter.