Abstract: The steady free convection boundary layer flow along a
semi-infinite vertical plate with variable heat flux, in presence of variable
transverse magnetic field have been studied. The heat flux at the plate and
transverse magnetic field have been assumed to vary along the direction of the
plate. The governing boundary layer equations have been solved using the series
expansion of the stream function and temperature function in powers of Brinkmann
number (Br). The resulting non-linear
coupled ordinary differential equations have been solved numerically on computer
using Newton’s shooting technique. The velocity and temperature profiles are
drawn for different values of Prandtl number, magnetic field parameter and
Brinkmann number. The expressions for skin-friction and recovery factor have
been obtained. The numerical values of and which correspond to local
skin-friction and recovery factor, are presented. Also, the local skin-friction
and recovery temperature have been presented graphically, for different values
of magnetic field parameter and Prandtl number.
Keywords and phrases: steady free convection, viscous heating, transverse magnetic field, vertical plate.
