The effects of magnetic fields on an unsteady mixed convective boundary layer flow of an electrically conducting fluid with temperature dependent properties

Mixed convection boundary layer flow of an electrically conducting fluid with temperature dependent properties over an inclined plate has been discussed. The magnetohydrodynamics boundary layer governing equations have been derived by employing Boussinesq and boundary layer approximations. These equations have been transformed from PDEs to ODEs using a similarity transformation variable. The resulting similarity equations have been solved numerically subject to the boundary conditions by using bvp4cwith MATLAB package. In this study, the effects of magnetic fields, unsteadiness, mixed convection, variable fluid properties, inclination angle and viscous dissipation on velocity and temperature in the boundary layer have been analysed. The results of the study showed that viscosity and thermal conductivity variation parameters have significant effect on the velocity and temperature profiles respectively. On the other hand mixed convection parameter and unsteady parameter have a great impact on the heat transfer from the plate to the fluid and skin friction on the plate. Furthermore the rate of heat transfer decreases and skin friction increases as the magnetic parameter increases. This shows that, magnetic field strength has significant contribution to the total heat transfer from the plate to the fluid and skin friction on the plate. Specifically, this investigation has significant application on the cooling of electronic devices subjected to magnetic fields. This is because mixed convection of fluids with temperature dependent properties can be engineered by adjusting temperature to improve their thermal conductivities and dynamic viscosity.