Free-convection between vertical walls partially filled with porous medium

This paper presents an analytical study of laminar fully developed free-convection flow between two vertical walls partially filled with porous matrix and partially with a clear fluid having interface vertically. The momentum transfer in porous medium is described by the Brinkman-extended Darcy model and the two regions are coupled by equating the velocity and shear stress at the interface. The governing equations having non-linear nature have been solved by using perturbation method. It has been found that effect of Brinkman term is in entire porous domain for large values of Darcy number while its effect is confined nearer to interface and wall for small values of Darcy number. Received on 19 March 1997