Thermal decomposition of unsteady non-Newtonian MHD Couette flow with variable properties

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Couette flow of an electrically conducting incompressible non-Newtonian third grade reactive fluid with temperature-dependent variable viscosity and thermal conductivity properties under isothermal surface conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The coupled non-linear partial differential equations for momentum and energy balance governing the transient problem are obtained and tackled numerically using a semi-discretization finite difference technique.

Findings

The effects of various embedded thermophysical parameters on the velocity and temperature fields including skin friction, Nusselt number and thermal stability conditions are presented graphically and discussed quantitatively.

Practical implications

The approach is applicable to modelling the complex physical phenomenon in MHD lubrications that occurs in numerous areas of engineering and industrial processes.

Originality/value

This paper may be of industrial and engineering interest especially in understanding the combined effects of unsteadiness, variable thermophysical properties and magnetic field on the thermal stability condition for a reactive non-Newtonian third grade fluid under Couette flow scenario.

Citation

Makinde, D.O. and Franks, O. (2015), "Thermal decomposition of unsteady non-Newtonian MHD Couette flow with variable properties", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 25 No. 2, pp. 252-264. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-12-2013-0342