The effects of wall conductivity in magnetohydrodynamic duct flow at high Hartmann numbers

Abstract

AbstractLaminar motion of a conducting fluid in a rectangular duct is discussed. The applied magnetic field is uniform and parallel to one pair of sides of the duct. Classical theory is used and it is shown that the two successive limiting processes, lim (σwall → ∞; hσ wall → a finite, constant limit) and lim (M → ∞) are not always freely interchangeable; M being the Hartmann number, σwall the electrical conductivity of the duct wall and h the typical ratio of (wall thickness/duct width). A general expansion procedure for M ≫ 1, valid for all types of wall conductivities, is devised. A critical discussion of the deficiencies in the classical model is given.