Magnetohydrodynamic Three-Dimensional Couette Flow of a Maxwell Fluid with Periodic Injection/Suction

Abstract

A mathematical model for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) three-dimensional Couette flow of an incompressible Maxwell fluid is developed and analyzed theoretically. The application of transverse sinusoidal injection at the lower stationary plate and its equivalent removal by suction through the uniformly moving upper plate lead to three-dimensional flow. Approximate solutions for velocity field, pressure, and skin friction are obtained. The effects of flow parameters such as Hartmann number, Reynolds number, suction/injection parameter, and the Deborah number on velocity components, skin friction factors along main flow direction and transverse direction, and pressure through parallel porous plates are discussed graphically. It is noted that Hartmann number provides a mechanism to control the skin friction component along the main flow direction.