Moving wedge and flat plate in a micropolar fluid

Similarity solutions for a moving wedge and flat plate in a micropolar fluid may be obtained when the fluid and boundary velocities are proportional to the same power-law of the downstream coordinate. The governing partial differential equations are transformed to the ordinary differential equations using similarity variables, and then solve numerically using a finite-difference scheme known as the Keller-box method. Numerical results are given for the dimensionless velocity and microrotation profiles, as well as the skin friction coefficient for several values of the Falkner–Skan power-law parameter (m), the ratio of the boundary velocity to the free stream velocity parameter (λ) and the material parameter (K). Important features of these flow characteristics are plotted and discussed. It is found that multiple solutions exist when the boundary is moving in the opposite direction to the free stream, and the micropolar fluids display a drag reduction compared to Newtonian fluids.