A numerical study of MHD generalized Couette flow and heat transfer with variable viscosity and electrical conductivity

The steady flow and heat transfer of an electrically conducting fluid with variable viscosity and electrical conductivity between two parallel plates in the presence of a transverse magnetic field is investigated. It is assumed that the flow is driven by combined action of axial pressure gradient and uniform motion of the upper plate. The governing nonlinear equations of momentum and energy transport are solved numerically using a shooting iteration technique together with a sixth-order Runge-Kutta integration algorithm. Solutions are presented in graphical form and given in terms of fluid velocity, fluid temperature, skin friction and heat transfer rate for various parametric values. Our results reveal that the combined effect of magnetic field, viscosity, exponents of variable properties, various fluid and heat transfer dimensionless quantities and the electrical conductivity variation, have significant impact on the hydromagnetic and electrical properties of the fluid.

► Hydromagnetic channel flow with variable viscosity and electrical conductivity is investigated.
► The problem is also extended to include heat transfer analysis.
► The nonlinear governing equations are solved numerically using a shooting iteration technique.
► Numerical and graphical results are obtained for entire flow structure.
► Parametric effects on fluid velocity, temperature, skin friction and heat transfer rate are discussed.