Numerical Investigation of MHD Pulsatile Flow of Micropolar Fluid in a Channel with Symmetrically Constricted Walls

This article presented an analysis of the pulsatile flow of non-Newtonian micropolar (MP) fluid under Lorentz force's effect in a channel with symmetrical constrictions on the walls. The governing equations were first converted into the vorticity-stream function form, and a finite difference-based solver was used to solve it numerically on a Cartesian grid. The impacts of different flow controlling parameters, including the Hartman number, Strouhal number, Reynolds number, and MP parameter on the flow profiles, were studied. The wall shear stress (WSS), axial, and micro-rotation velocity profiles were depicted visually. The streamlines and vorticity patterns of the flow were also sketched. It is evident from the numerical results that the flow separation region near constriction as well as flattening of the axial velocity component is effectively controlled by the Hartmann number. At the maximum flow rate, the WSS attained its peak. The WSS increased in both the Hartmann number and Reynolds number, whereas it declined with the higher values of the MP parameter. The micro-rotation velocity increased in the Reynolds number, and it declined with increment in the MP parameter.

Automated summary

This article presented an analysis of pulsatile flow of non-Newtonian micropolar fluid under Lorentz force in a channel with symmetrical constrictions. The study found that the Hartmann number effectively controlled the flow separation region, while the wall shear stress increased with Hartmann and Reynolds numbers, but decreased with the MP parameter. The micro-rotation velocity increased with Reynolds number and decreased with the MP parameter.