Effect of sinusoidal wavy bottom surface on mixed convection heat transfer in a lid-driven cavity

The current numerical study is conducted to analyze mixed convection heat transfer in lid-driven cavity with a sinusoidal wavy bottom surface. The cavity vertical walls are insulated while the wavy bottom surface is maintained at a uniform temperature higher than the top lid. In addition, the transport equations are solved using the finite element formulation based on the Galerkin method of weighted residuals. The validity of the numerical code used is ascertained by comparing our results with previously published results. The implications of Richardson number, number of wavy surface undulation and amplitude of the wavy surface on the flow structure and heat transfer characteristics are investigated in detail while the Prandtl number is considered equal to unity. The trend of the local heat transfer is found to follow a wavy pattern. The results of this investigation illustrate that the average Nusselt number increases with an increase in both the amplitude of the wavy surface and Reynolds number. Furthermore, optimum heat transfer is achieved when the wavy surface is designated with two undulations while subjected to low Richardson numbers. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.