Temperature-dependent variable viscosity and thermal conductivity effects on non-Newtonian fluids flow in a porous medium

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to consider the simultaneous flow of Casson Williamson non Newtonian fluids in a vertical porous medium under the influence of variable thermos-physical parameters. Design/methodology/approach The model equations are a set of partial differential equations (PDEs). These PDEs were transformed into a non-dimensionless form using suitable non-dimensional quantities. The transformed equations were solved numerically using an iterative method called spectral relaxation techniques. The spectral relaxation technique is an iterative method that uses the Gauss-Seidel approach in discretizing and linearizing the set of equations. Findings It was found out in the study that a considerable number of variable viscosity parameter leads to decrease in the velocity and temperature profiles. Increase in the variable thermal conductivity parameter degenerates the velocity as well as temperature profiles. Hence, the variable thermo-physical parameters greatly influence the non-Newtonian fluids flow. Originality/value This study considered the simultaneous flow of Casson-Williamson non-Newtonian fluids by considering the fluid thermal properties to vary within the fluid layers. To the best of the author’s knowledge, such study has not been considered in literature.