Numerical simulation of magnetohydrodynamic micropolar fluid flow and heat transfer in a channel with shrinking walls

Abstract

We numerically study the steady hydromagnetic (magnetohydrodynamic) flow and heat transfer characteristics of a viscous incompressible electrically conducting micropolar fluid in a channel with shrinking walls. Unlike the classical shooting methodology, two distinct numerical techniques are employed to solve the transformed self-similar nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). One is the combination of a direct and an iterative method (successive over-relaxation with optimal relaxation parameter) for solving the sparse system of linear algebraic equations arising from the finite difference discretization of the linearised ODEs. For the second one, a pseudotransient method is used where time plays the role of an iteration parameter until the steady state is reached. The two approaches may be easily extended to other geometries (for example, sheets, disks, and cylinders) with possible wall conditions like slip, stretching, rotation, suction, and injection. Effects of some physical parameters on the flow and heat transfer are discussed and presented through tables and graphs. Detailed description of the computational procedure and the results of the study may be beneficial for the researchers in the flow and thermal control of polymeric processing.