Free-forced convective boundary-layer flow of a biomagnetic fluid under the action of a localized magnetic field

Abstract

The problem of the two-dimensional steady and laminar free-forced convective boundary-layer flow of a biomagnetic fluid over a semi-infinite vertical plate, under the action of a localized magnetic field, is numerically studied. The dynamic viscosity of the biomagnetic fluid as well as its thermal conductivity is considered to be temperature-dependent whereas the magnetization of the fluid varies linearly with the magnetic field strength. The numerical solution of the coupled and nonlinear system of partial differential equations (resulting after the introduction of appropriate nondimensional variables) with boundary conditions describing the problem under consideration, is obtained by an efficient numerical technique based on the common finite difference method. Numerical calculations were carried out for the case of blood (Pr = 21) for different values of the dimensionless parameters entering into the problem, especially for the magnetic parameter Mn and the viscosity–temperature parameter Θr. The analysis of the obtained results, presented in figures, shows that the flow field is influenced by the application of the magnetic field, which could be interesting for medical and bioengineering applications. PACS Nos.: 44.20.+b, 44.25.+f, 44.27.+g, 47.15.Cb, 47.65.Cb, 47.63.–b, 47.90.+a