Similarity Solutions for Laminar Boundary Layer Flow of Darcian Fluid over Horizontal Plate with a Convective Boundary Condition

This paper considers the problem of hydrodynamics and thermal boundary layers of Darcy flow over horizontal surface embedded in a porous medium. The solutions of such problems for the cases of uniform surface temperature and variable surface temperature have been studied and analysed in many papers. This paper, however, attempts to find similarity solutions for the Darcy flow problem with a convective boundary condition at the plate surface. It is found that the solution is possible when the heat transfer coefficient is proportional to x–2/3. The numerical solutions thus obtained are analyzed for a range of values of the parameter characterizing the hot fluid convection process. Analytical expressions are provided for local surface heat flux and total surface heat transfer rate while the flow variables are discussed graphically.