THERMAL CONVECTION OF MICROPOLAR FLUIDS IN A LID-DRIVEN CAVITY

摘要

Laminar mixed convection flow of micropolar fluids in a square cavity has been investigated numerically. The flow in the cavity is induced by the combined shear force and buoyancy force resulting from the motion and heating of the upper lid. Parametric studies of the effects of microstructure on the fluid flow and heat transfer in the cavity have been carried out. The flow phenomena are discussed for a range of Grashof number and Reynolds number. Numerical computations are also performed for Newtonian fluid for comparison. The numerical results indicated the strong influence of material parameter, such as vortex viscosity and spin gradient viscosity, on the flow structure and heat transfer. [References: 17]