IOSR Journal of Mathematics (IOSR-JM)

e-ISSN: 2278-5728, p-ISSN: 2319-765X. Volume 11, Issue 1 Ver. IV (Jan - Feb. 2015), PP 26-37
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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation

Point of the Spinning and Translating Sphere
Indeewar Kumar1, Khemlal Mahto2
1

(Department of Mathematics, Manipal University Jaipur, Rajasthan, India)

(Department of Mathematics,University College of Engineering &Technology (UCET), VBU, Hazaribah,
Jharkhand, India)

Abstract: Exact solutions are important not only in its own right as solution of particular flows, but also serve
as accuracy check for numerical solution. Exact solution of the Navier-Strokes equation are, for example, those
of steady and unsteady flows near a stagnation point, Stagnation point flows can either be viscous or inviscid,
steady or unsteady, two dimensional or three dimensional, normal or oblique and forward or reverse. The
classic problems of two dimensional and three dimensional stagnation point flow are associated with the names
of Hiemenz and Homan A novel radial stagnation point flow impinging axi symmetrically on a circular cylinder
was reported by Wang. The present paper deals with the laminar boundary layer flow and heat transfer in the
stagnation region of a rotating and translating sphere with uniform magnetic fields. The governing equations of
flow are derived for = 0 (t*=0) and =1 (t*) and solutions in the closed form are obtained. The
temperature and velocity fields for = 0 are numerically computed. This shows that the thermal boundary layer
thickness decreases as Prandtl number Princreases.The surface heat transfer (28) increases with the Prandtl
number Pr. The surface heat transfer (28) at the starting of motion is found to be strangely dependent on the
Prandtl number Pr. But it is dependent of magnetic field, buoyancy force Bp and Rotation Parameter Ro.
Keywords:Temperature field, velocity field,uniform magnetic field, buoyancy force, Rotation Parameter.

I.

Introduction

Exact solutions are important not only in its own right as solution of particular flows, but also serve as
accuracy check for numerical solution.
Exact solution of the Navier-Strokes equation are, for example, those of steady and unsteady flows near
a stagnation point, Stagnation point flows can either be viscous or inviscid, steady or unsteady, two dimensional
or three dimensional, normal or oblique and forward or reverse. The classic problems of two dimensional and
three dimensional stagnation point flow are associated with the names of Hiemenz and Homan A novel radial
stagnation point flow impinging axi symmetrically on a circular cylinder was reported by Wang
Luthander and Rydberg measured drag coefficient on a rofating sphere in axial flow. Homan and
Frossling first obtained the exact solution of the Navier Strokes equations for rotationally symmetrical
stagnation point flow and found that the boundary layer thickness was independent of the distance along the
wall and the velocity profiles were similar. Mishra and Choudhary studied axi-symmetric stagnation point flow
with uniform suction. Rott and Crabtree simplified the boundary layer calculations for bodies of revolution. Lok
et al. studied the growth of the boundary layer of micropolar fluid started implusively from rest near the forward
stagnation point of a two dimensional plane surface.
We discussed axi-symmetric stagnation flow of a viscous and electrically conducting fluid near the
blunt nose of a spinning body with pressure of magnetic field. Sparrow et. al investigated the effect of
transpiration cooling in MHD stagnation point flow. Ece has investigated the initial boundary layer flow past an
impulsively started translating and spinning body of revolution. Rajasekaran and Palekar studied the influence
of buoyancy force on the steady forced convection flow over a spinning sphere. Lee et. al discussed heat transfer
over rotating bodies in forced flows. Hatrikonstantinou studied the effects of a mixed convection and viscous
dissipation on heat transfer about porous rotating sphere.
Bush analyzed the stagnation point boundary layer in the presence of an applied magnetic field. Ozturk
and Ece investigated into unsteady force convection heat transfer from a translating and spinning body. Thakur
et. al investigated hydromagnetic boundary layer flow and heat transfer in the stagnation region of a spinning
and translating sphere in the presence of buoyancy forces.
The present paper deals with the laminar boundary layer flow and heat transfer in the stagnation region
of a rotating and translating sphere with uniform magnetic fields. The governing equations of flow are derived
for = 0 (t*=0) and =1 (t*) and solutions in the closed form are obtained. The temperature and velocity
fields for = 0 are numerically computed.

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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation Point of the Spinning and .
Notations
u, v, w

velocity components in the direction of X- axis, and Y-axis and

Z-axis respectively
:
Characteristic velocity

Characteristic length

electrical conductivity

magnetic permeability

Rm= 0 vL<<1 :

magnetic Reynold number

constant magnetic field applied in the z-direction

temperature

time

density

coefficient of visconsity

/ = kinenaticviscousity

thermal conductivity

angular velocity of the sphere

acceleration due to gravity

coefficient of thermal expansion

radius of the sphere

Cp

specific heat at a constant pressure Subscripts

e,w,

denote conditions of the edge of the boundary layer on the

surface and in the free stream

temperature on the surface

temperature in the free stream

Pr = Cp / K
M = B2 / Pr

:
:

Prandtl number
magnetic parameter

Bp = Gr R / Re2R

Buoyancy parameter

GrR = g (T - T) R3/ 3

:Grashof number

= T - T / T - T

dimensionless temperature

velocity gradient at the edge of the boundary layer.

ReR = b R2 /

Reynolds number

Ro = (/b)2

rotation parameter

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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation Point of the Spinning and .
ue

ax, velocity on the edge of the boundary layer, a>0

= (2b/)1/2 Z/1/2

dimensionless variable

dimensionless time

f1

dimensionless velocity component along x-direction

dimensionless velocity component along y-direction

II.

Formulation of the problems, assumptions and governing equations

Formulation
Suppose a sphere is at rest in an abient fluid with surface temperature T at t< 0 (i.e. prior to the time t
= 0). The sphere is suddenly spinning with the constant angular velocity . When at t=0 an impulsive motion is
imposed to the fluid, and T is suddenly raised to T (T> T). The unsteadiness is caused by the impulsive
motion of the fluid and the impulsive motion of sphere.

UO U

Flow Model
Consider the unsteady laminar boundary layer flow of a viscous, incompressible fluid of small
electrical conductivity in the front stagnation region of this spinning sphere in the presence of uniform magnetic
field and a buoyancy force. Take x the distance along a meridian from the front stagnation point, y the distance
in the direction of spinning and z the distance normal to the surface.
Assumptions
Following assumptions are made.
i.
A uniform magnetic field B is imposed in the direction of z-axis.
ii.
The boundary layer flow under uniform magnetic field is axi-symmetric.
iii.
The magnetic Reynolds number Rm is very small. i.e. Rm<< 1.
iv.
As Rm<<1, the effect of the induced magnetic field as compared to B is neglected.
v.
The dissipation terms, Ohmic heating and surface curvature are neglected in the region of front stagnation
point of the surface.
vi.
The fluid has constant properties except the density changes which produce buoyancy forces.
vii.
The effect of the buoyancy induced stream wise pressure gradient terms on the flow and temperature
profile is negligible.
viii.
Tw and T are taken as constants.
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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation Point of the Spinning and .
Governing Equations
Under the above assumptions the boundary layer equations governing the flow of the present problem
after lee et. al, Ozturk et. al and Bush are

x
u
t
v
t
T
t

ux + z wx = 0
+u
+u

u
x
v
x
T

+w
+w

u
z
v
z
T

v2

= e

x
uv
x

(1)
du e

=v

dx
2w

z 2
K 2T

+ u x + w z = C

+v

2u

z 2
B 2

+ g T T

x
R

B 2

u ue (2)

(3)
(4)

2
p t

With initial conditions

t< 0:
u (x, z, t) = 0
v (x, z, t) = 0
w (x, z, t) = 0
T (x, z, t) = T

(5)

And the boundary layer conditions

t0
u (x, 0, t) = 0
v (x, 0, t) = x
w (x, 0, t) = Tw
(6)
u (x, , t) = ue(x)
v (x, , t) = 0
T (x, , t) = T
Application of Transformation
Following William and Rhyme, we apple the transformation given below for making the region of time
integration finite:
t = b t, b>0
= 1 e-t
2b 1/2

v
2

R0 =

-1/2 z

(7)

b
Gr R

Bp = R 2 eR
GrR =
ReR =
M=

g T T R 3
v2

bR 2

v
B2
b

e = bx
VW = x
u (x,z,t )
f ' (, ) = b x
u(x,z,t )

S (, ) =
f (, ) =

x
w(x,z,t)

(7)

1/2 (2b 2 )1/2

(, ) =

T x,z,t T

Cp

T T

Pr= K
These transformations (7) are used in the governing equations. Equation (1) is identically satisfied and equations
(2), (3) and (4) are transformed into equations.

1
f
f + 4 1 f + f f + 2 1 f f 2 R 0 s2 + 2 M 1 f + 2 Bp = (1 ) (8)

s + 4 1 s + fs f s

Pr

Ms
2

+ 4 1 + f = 2 (1 )

= 2 (1 )

(9)
(10)

The boundary condition (6) become

f , 0 = f (, 0) = 0; s(, 0) = (, 0) = 1
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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation Point of the Spinning and .
f (, ) = 1; s , = (, ) = 0
Special forms of governing equation at time infinity and at time zero
When =1( t ) equation (8), (9) and (10) reduce to
1

Bp

f + f f + [1 (f )2 + R 0 S2 ] + (1 f ) +

s +fs f s

Ms
2

(11)

=0

(12)

=0

(13)

+f =0

Pr

(14)

When = 0 (t = 0 i.e at the start of the motion), equations (8), (9) and (10) becomes.

f + 4 f = 0

(15)

s + s = 0

(16)

1
Pr

+ = 0

(17)

The boundary conditions (11), for the equations (12) (17) changed to
f (0) = f '(0) = 0
s (0) = (0) = 1
f '() = 1, s () = () = 0

(18)

Closed from solutions for the case t = 0 ( = 0)

From (17)

Pr
d =
d

4
Pr
log C = 2
8

or,
or

or,
Or

= C . e
d
d

Pr 2

=
Pr
4

Pr 2

= e 8
C

(17a)

P
r 2

= C .e
e

d = C

=C

Pr 2

Pr 2

0
Pr

=C
Now, e r f

d
d + D, D is constant
2

2 2
e
d + D
0
n x 2
2
= 0 e dx

(18a)

e r fc = 1 e r f
(18) can be written as
= 0 : f = f '= 0, s = 1, = 1
:f'=1 ,s==0
Using first condition of (20) in (18), we get
(0) = 0 + D
Or
1=D

(19)
(20)

Pr

Let

x=

Then

dx =

Pr
d
8

0, x 0
, x
So using second condition of (20) in (18), we get

ex

O=C
0

8
dx + 1
Pr

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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation Point of the Spinning and .

ex

or 1 = C

8
dx
Pr

Pr
=C
8

= C
or,

C=

ex dx

Pr 4
8

Pr
2
Putting C and D in (18), we get
C=

Pr
=1
2

Pr

0
n

Pr
=1
2

Pr
y
8

dy

Put

Pr
y=t
8

Then

Pr
dy = dt
8
Pr

Pr

So, = 1

et

8
Pr

dt

Pr

= 1

Pr 2 2
2 Pr

= 1erf
or,

et dt
0

Pr

8
Pr

= erfc

(20a)

From (15), f '' '() + f () = 0

4
f

or,
d =
d
f ()
4
On integration
f ()
2
log e
=
C1
8
f = C1 e

2
8

, C1 is constant of integration

Again on, integration

f () = C1

2
8

d + D1 , D1 is constant

Using first condition of (18), D1= 0

2

Then
put

f () = C1

=x
2 2
d
Then
= dx
2 2

e 8
0

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(20b)
20c

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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation Point of the Spinning and .
, x
0, x 0
Using (20c) and 2nd condition of (18), we have

ex 2 2 dx

f () = C1
0

ex dx

= 2 2C1
0

1 = 2 2C1
= C1 2
2
1

C1 =
2
Putting C1 in (20b), we get

f () =

e y

8 dy

taking

e 8 dt

2
8

t2

8 y2

2 0

=y

dy

f () =

f =

e y dy
0

(21)

erf

f = erf
Integrating,

e x dx d

e x dx d

x2 x4 x6 x8
+ + . . . dx d
1! 2! 3! 4!

x3
x5
x7
x9
x +

+
.
3 5.2! 7.3! 9.4!

f =

From (21),
f = erf

8
3

8
5.2!

8
7.3!

+. d

(22)

On integration
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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation Point of the Spinning and .
f =

erf

d e r f
d
8
8
Using (22), we have

2 1
32
54
76
f = erf

3+
7 d
5
8 3 8
8
7 3! 8
5 2! 8

2
3
5
7
= erf

+
+
d
8 8 8 2! 82 8 3! 83 8
8

2 2
4
6
8
= erf

+.
2 8 4.8 8 6.2. 82 8 8.3!. 83 8
8

1 2
4
6
8
= erf

+. .
8 2.8. 8 6. 82 . 8 4.3. 83 8
8
2
3
4
2
2
2
2

8
8
8
8
8
erf

+. . .
1!
2!
3!
4!

8
= erf

f = erf

2 2

1 e

(23)

From (16)

s + s = 0
4
s

or =
s
4
On integration,
s
1
d =
d
s
4
s
2
or, log =
C
8
2
s

or
=e 8
C
2

s = C e 8
On integration

(23a)

s =C

2
8

d + C1

Using first condition in (24) of (20)

C1 = 1
e

s =C

2
8

d + 1

= 1+C

2
8

y2
8

dy

= 1+C
0

= 1+C

y 2
2 2

dy

t = y/2 2

Put
dt =

dy
2 2

2 2
2

et 2 2 dt

s = 1+C
0

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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation Point of the Spinning and .

s = 1 + C 2 2 02 2 et dt
Using 2nd conditions of (20)

(23b)

et dt

s = 01 + 2 2 C
0

0 =1+2 2C
2
1 = C 2
1
C=
2
Putting C, in (23a) we get
1 2
s =
e 8
2
1
Putting C =
in (23b), we get
2

2 2

s =1+2 2

2 2

or,

s = 1

et dt
0

et dt
0

= 1erf
or, s = e r f c

8
Similarly equation (17) is solved for '() and ().
Equation (17) is solved for '() and () in the same way as (16) is solved for s'() and s()
Thus, the closed from solutions of (15) (17) under boundary conditions (18) are

f = e r f
(24)
8
2 2
2

f = e r f

1 e /8
(25)
8

s =erfC
(26)
8
1 2 /8
s =
e
(27)
2
=

Pr P r 2
e 8
2

(28)

Pr

8
Surface heat transfer for = 0 (i.e. at the start of the motion) is given by
=erfc

0 =

(29)

Pr P r 2
e 8
2
=0

III.

Pr
30
2

Results and Conclusion

Numeric calculations are made for temperature distribution, velocity field and heat transfer. Variation
of velocity distribution f '() and s() in the directions of x-axis and y-axis against are shown in table 1 and 2;
and shown graphically by curves in figure.

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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation Point of the Spinning and .
The heat transfer expression (26) is calculated for Prandtl number Pr (.71, 3.02, 10 and 19.6) and the
numerical values are listed in Tables .Temperature distribution (27) is computed for Pr (=.71, 3.02, 10 and 19.6)
and results of calculations are entered in Tables and illustrated in figures
This shows that the thermal boundary layer thickness decreases as Prandtl number Princreases.The
surface heat transfer (28) increases with the Prandtl number Pr. The surface heat transfer (28) at the starting of
motion is found to be strongely dependent on the Prandtl number Pr. But it is dependent of magnetic field,
buoyancy force Bpand Rotation Parameter Ro.
For non-conduction fluid (M=0) and without boundary force Bp for Steady state (=0) equations (12)
and (13) become
1

2
f + f f + 1 f + R O s2 = 0
2
And
s''() + f () s'() f '() s () = 0

These equations are same as that of Lee et. al. This deduction confirms the correctness of our approach.
Table 1
Boundary layer flow in the vicinity of the forward stagnation point of the spinning and translating
sphere
Value of velocity field f '() in the direction of x-axis f'() = e r t f (/ 8 )

0
0.03
0.14
0.28
0.42
0.57
0.71
0.85
0.99
1.13
1.27
1.41
1.56
1.70
1.84
1.98
2.12
2.26
1.40
2.55
2.69
2.83
2.97
3.11
3.25
3.39
..
6.79
..

f'()
0
0.011128
0.05637
0.11246
0.16800
0.22270
0.27633
0.32863
0.37938
0.42839
0.47548
0.52050
0.56332
0.60386
0.64203
0.67780
0.71116
0.74210
0.77667
0.79691
0.82089
0.84270
0.86244
0.88021
0.89612
0.91031
..
0.99931
..
1

Table 2

0
0.03
0.14
0.28
0.42
0.57
0.71
0.85
0.99
1.13

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s()
1.00000
0.98872
0.94363
0.88754
0.83200
0.77730
0.72367
0.67137
0.62062
0.57161

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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation Point of the Spinning and .
1.41
1.70
1.98
2.12
2.40
2.97
3.25
3.54
3.82
4.10
4.53
4.81
5.09
5.23
5.52
5.80
6.08
6.51
6.65
..

0.47950
0.39614
0.32220
0.28884
0.22933
0.13756
0.10388
0.07710
0.05624
0.04030
0.02365
0.01621
0.01091
0.00889
0.00582
0.00374
0.00236
0.00114
0.00089
.

Table 3

0
0.50
1.01
1.51
2.02
2.52
3.02
3.53
4.03
4.54
5.04
5.54
6.05
6.55
7.06
7.56
8.08

()
1.00000
0.83200
0.67137
0.52452
0.39614
0.28884
0.20309
0.13756
0.089669
0.05624
0.03389
0.01962
0.01091
0.00582
0.00298
0.00146
0.00069
.

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

f ( )

0
0

0 .3

0 .1 4

0 .8 5

1 . 1 3 . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . .

Figure 1 for Table 1

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Boundary Layer Flow in the Vicinity of the Forward Stagnation Point of the Spinning and .
1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

S ( )

0
0

0 .3

0 .7 1

1 .1 3

1 . 5 6 . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . 6 . 5 1

6 .6 5

Figure 2 for Table 2

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

( )

0
0

0 .1 7

0 . 8 4 1 . 3 4 . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . 7 . 3 9

8 .0 6

Figure 3 for Table 3

Acknowledgements
I am very much thankful to professor Dr. B.N. Mishra, Rred. University prof. and Head, Deptt.of
Mathematics, VinobaBhave University, Hazaribag for suggestions and improvement.

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[3].
[4].
[5].
[6].
[7].
[8].
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[10].

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