Steady MHD Flow Through Horizontal Channel Using Finite Element Techniques

A mathematical model is proposed for the Steady flow of an electrically conducting viscous fluid through horizontal channel, lower being a stretching sheet and upper being permeable plate bounded by porous medium in the presence of transverse magnetic field. The derivation of the governing equations of the problem is difficult to find their solutions by exact method due to geometric and material complexities. Therefore, the only alternative is to find approximate solutions using finite element techniques. In this paper, Galerkin method is used to determine the solutions of differential equations. The Galerkin method endowed with distinct features that account for its superiority over other competing methods. The expressions for velocity distribution, normal velocity distribution and skin-friction are obtained, using Galerkin method. Influence of Hartmann number, cross-flow Reynolds number, stretching Reynolds number and permeability parameter on velocity distribution and on normal velocity distribution are shown graphically and on skin-friction are presented through table.