| Abstract: | A generally applicable finite element procedure for the prediction of laminar mixed convection in horizontal straight ducts of arbitrary cross-section is presented. The procedure, based on the parabolized simplification of the complete Navier-Stokes equations and on the Boussinesq approximation of the buoyancy terms, is validated through comparisons of computed results with the available literature data for mixed convection in the entrance region of a rectangular duct of aspect ratio a=2. Uniform heating at different sides is considered as the thermal boundary condition, although the proposed formulation allows specification of most thermal boundary conditions of practical interest. |
