Thermal radiation effects on power-law fluids over a horizontal plate embedded in a porous medium

The present study is devoted to investigate the influences of thermal radiation on buoyancy induced flow over horizontal flat plate embedded in a non-Newtonian fluid saturated porous medium. The Ostwald-de Waele power-law model is used to characterize the non-Newtonian fluid behavior. Rosseland approximation is used to describe the radiative heat flux in the energy equation. Similarity solution for the transformed governing equations is obtained with prescribed variable surface temperature. Numerical results for the details of the velocity and temperature profiles are shown on graphs. Nusselt number associated with temperature distributions which are entered in tables have been presented for different values of the power-law index n and the exponent A as well as radiation parameter and the temperature difference. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.