Effect of magnetic field on peristaltic flow of a fourth grade fluid in a tapered asymmetric channel

• Main Authors: M. Kothandapani, V. Pushparaj, J. Prakash
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2018-01-01
• Series: Journal of King Saud University: Engineering Sciences
• Subjects: Peristalsis; Fourth-grade fluid; Tapered asymmetric channel; Hartmann number
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018363916000039

The problem of peristaltic transport of an incompressible non-Newtonian fluid in a tapered asymmetric channel is debated under long-wavelength and low-Reynolds number assumptions. The fluid is considered to be fourth order and electrically conducting by a transverse magnetic field. The tapered asymmetry in the flow is induced by taking peristaltic wave imposed on the non uniform boundary walls to possess different amplitudes and phase. Series solutions for stream function, axial velocity and pressure gradient are given using regular perturbation technique, when Deborah number is small. Numerical computations have been performed for the pressure rise per wavelength. Influences of different physical parameters entering into the problem have also been discussed in detail.