EFFECT OF RADIATIVE TRANSFER ON RAYLEIGH-B??NARD CONVECTION IN A COUPLE-STRESS FLUID

EFFECT OF RADIATIVE TRANSFER ON RAYLEIGH-B??NARD CONVECTION IN A COUPLE-STRESS FLUID

The problem of Rayleigh-Benard convection in a couple-stress fluid with thermal radiation is studied within the framework of linear stability analysis. Only infinitesimal disturbances are considered. The linear stability analysis is based on the normal mode technique. The fluid between the boundaries absorbs and emits thermal radiation. The boundaries are treated as black bodies. The absorption coefficient of the fluid is assumed to be the same at all wavelengths and to be independent of the physical state. The principle of exchange of stabilities is valid and the existence of oscillatory instability is ruled out. The expression for the stationary Rayleigh number is obtained as a function of the governing parameters, viz., the wave number, the couple-stress parameter, the conduction-radiation parameter and the absorptivity parameter. The Galerkin method is used to determine the eigenvalues. The effect of various parameters on the stability of the fluid layer is discussed through figures and tables.

V. CHITRA

Mathematics