Effects of buoyancy assisting and opposing flows on mixed convection boundary layer flow over a permeable vertical surface

The present study deals with new similarity solution of steady mixed convection boundary layer flow over a permeable surface for convective boundary condition. It has been shown that a self similar solution is possible when the mass transfer velocity at the surface of the plate varies like x(-1/2), where x is the distance from the leading edge of the solid surface. Two point boundary value problem governed by non-linear coupled ordinary differential equations have been solved numerically using implicit finite difference scheme in combination with the quasi-linearization technique. It is interesting to note that dual solutions exist for buoyancy assisting flow, besides that usually reported in literature for buoyancy opposing flow. Further, the buoyancy assisting force causes considerable overshoot in the velocity profile and the Prandtl number strongly affects the thermal boundary layer thickness including the surface heat transfer rate. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.