Variable permeability effects on mixed convection along a vertical wedge embedded in a porous medium with variable surface heat flux

The problem of mixed convection from impermeable vertical wedge in a fluid saturated porous medium incorporating the variation of permeability and thermal conductivity is analyzed. A nonsimilarity solution is obtained for the case of variable surface heat flux in the form q(w)(x) = bx(m). The entire mixed convection regime is covered by the single nonsimilarity parameter xi = [1 + (Ra-x/Pe(x)(3/2))(1/3)](-1) from pure forced convection ( xi = 1) to pure free convection ( xi = 0). A finite-difference scheme was used to solve the system of transformed governing equations. Velocity and temperature profiles, and local Nusselt number are presented. The wedge angle geometry parameter is ranged from 0 to 1. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.