A finite volume spectral element method for solving magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations

In this paper, the coupled equations in velocity and magnetic field for unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow through a pipe of rectangular section are solved using combined finite volume method and spectral element technique, improved by means of Hermit interpolation. The transverse applied magnetic field may have an arbitrary orientation relative to the section of the pipe. The velocity and induced magnetic field are studied for various values of Hartmann number, wall conductivity and orientation of the applied magnetic field. Comparisons with the exact solution and also some other numerical methods are made in the special cases where the exact solution exists. The numerical results for these sample problems compare very well to analytical results.