Analysis of oscillatory flow with thermal convection in a rectangular cavity filled with porous medium

A numerical analysis is carried out to investigate the fluid flow and heat transfer for oscillatory flow with heat transfer in a cavity filled with porous medium. The effect of porosity, permeability are studied for two sets of Grashof number and Reynolds number (Gr/Re-2 = 10(6)/(10(3))(2) and 10(4)/(400)(2)). The results show that the existence of porous medium reduces the flow strength and heat transfer rates. This effect results in reducing the stable stratification from the top surface. In addition, the variation of heat fluxes becomes smaller also. The permeability of porous medium exhibits more influence in flow and thermal phenomena and it diminishes the circulation strength and heat flux as the value is decreased. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.