The Onset of Double Diffusive Convection in a Couple Stress Fluid Saturated Anisotropic Porous Layer

Abstract

The double diffusive convection in a horizontal couple stress fluid saturated anisotropic porous layer, which is heated and salted from below, is studied analytically. The modified Darcy equation that includes the time derivative term is used to model the momentum equation. The critical Rayleigh number, wavenumber for stationary and oscillatory modes, and frequency of oscillations are obtained analytically using linear theory. The effect of anisotropy parameter, solute Rayleigh number, Lewis number, couple stress parameter, and Vadasz number on the stationary, oscillatory, and finite amplitude convection is shown graphically. It is found that the thermal anisotropy parameter, couple stress parameter, and solute Rayleigh number have stabilizing effect on the stationary, oscillatory, and finite amplitude convection. The mechanical anisotropy parameter has destabilizing effect on stationary, oscillatory, and finite amplitude convection. The Lewis number has stabilizing effect in the case of stationary and finite amplitude modes, with dual effect in the case of oscillatory convection. Vadasz number advances the onset of oscillatory convection. The heat and mass transfer decrease with an increase in the values of couple stress parameter, while both increase with an increase in the value of solute Rayleigh number and mechanical anisotropy parameter. The thermal anisotropy parameter and Lewis number have contrasting effect on the heat mass transfer. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.