Fluid Mechanics at the Interface between a Variable Viscosity Fluid Layer and a Variable Permeability Porous Medium

Abstract

Coupled parallel flow of fluid with pressure-dependent viscosity through an inclined channel underlain by a porous layer of variable permeability and variable thickness is initiated in this work. Conditions at the interface between the channel and the porous layer reflect continuity assumptions of velocity, shear stress, pressure and viscosity. Viscosity is assumed to vary in terms of a continuous pressure function that is valid throughout the channel and the porous layer. Model equations are cast in a form where the pressure as an independent variable and solutions are obtained to illustrate the effects of flow and media parameters on the dynamics behaviour of pressure-dependent viscosity fluid. A permeability and a viscosity adjustable control parameters are introduced to avoid unrealistic values of permeability and viscosity. This work could serve as a model for flow over a mushy zone.