Thermal Convection in a Porous Layer with Magnetic and Variable Gravity Field Effects

Abstract

The influence of the magnetic field, heat source, and variable gravity field on the stability of convective phenomena in a porous layer is investigated. Three types of gravity variations, such as linear, parabolic, and cubic functions are considered. For linear theory, the method of normal modes has been used to solve governing dimensionless equations which led to an eigenvalue problem. The effects of the physical parameters on the system are studied. It is found that the onset of convection is delayed by increasing the Hartmann number and gravity variation parameter and enhancement of the Darcy number makes the system stable.