IOSR Journal of Mathematics (IOSR-JM)

e-ISSN: 2278-5728, p-ISSN: 2319-765X. Volume 11, Issue 5 Ver. I (Sep. - Oct. 2015), PP 82-94
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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven

Triangular Cavity
Mohammed Nasir Uddin1*, M.N.Huda2, Aki Farhana3, M.A.Alim4
1

Department of Information & Communication Technology (ICT), Bangladesh University of Professionals

(BUP), Bangladesh.
2
Wing Commander, Deputy Director of Education, Air Headquarters, Bangladesh.
3
Department of Mathematics, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
4
Department of Mathematics, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET), Bangladesh

Abstract: In the present paper, the effect of dimensionless parameter on mixed convection flow within a liddriven triangular cavity has been numerically investigated. The bottom wall of the cavity is considered as
heated. Besides, the left and the inclined wall of the triangular cavity are assumed to be cool and adiabatic
respectively. The cooled wall of the cavity is moving up in the vertical direction. The developed mathematical
model is governed by the coupled equations of continuity, momentum and energy to determine the fluid flow and
heat transfer characteristics in the cavity as a function of Rayleigh number, Prandtl number and the cavity
aspect ratio. The proposed numerical procedure adopted in this investigation yields consistent performance
over a wide range of parameters such as Rayleigh number Ra (10 3-104), Prandtl number Pr (0.71 6.00) and
cavity aspect ratio (0.5 1.5). The numerical results have been presented in terms of stream functions,
temperature profile and Nusselt numbers. It is found that the streamlines, isotherms, average Nusselt number
and average fluid temperature in the cavity strongly depend on Rayleigh number, Prandtl number and cavity
aspect ratio.
Keywords: Finite element method, Lid-driven triangular cavity, mixed convection, Prandtl number, Rayleigh
number
Nomenclature
CAR
Cavity aspect ration
Gr
Grashof number
Re
Reynolds number
Ra
Rayleigh number
Pr
Prandtl number, /
Nu
Average Nusselt number
g
Gravitational acceleration (ms2)
k
Thermal conductivity of the fluid (Wm-1K1)
h
Convective heat transfer coefficient (W/m2
K)
N
Non-dimensional distance
Cavity volume
V
L
Height of the cavity
p
Pressure (Nm2)
P
Non-dimensional pressure
q
Heat flux (Wm2)
Tc
Temperature of cold wall (K)
Th
Temperature of hot wall(K)

Dimensional temperature
av
Average temperature

I.

T
Temperature (K)
T
Temperature difference
V0
Lid velocity (ms-1)
Cp
Specific heat at constant pressure (J/kg K)
x, y Cartesian coordinates (m)
X, Y
Non-dimensional Cartesian coordinates
u, v
Velocity components (ms1)
U,V
Non-dimensional velocity components
Greek symbols

thermal diffusivity, (m2s1)

thermal expansion coefficient (K1)

Fluid temperature

density of the fluid (kgm3)

kinematic viscosity of the fluid (m2s1)

Subscripts
P
constant pressure
av
average
h
hot
c
cold

Introduction

Mixed convection phenomenon occurs in many engineering systems such as cooling of electronic
devices, drying technology, solar collectors, flat glass manufacturing, nuclear reactors etc. The cavity with
moving lid is the most important application for these heat transfer mechanisms, which is seen in cooling of
electronic chips, solar energy collection, food industry etc. Numerical analysis of these kinds of systems can be
found in many literatures. Akinsete and coleman [1] first studied the various flow system in triangular cavity.
They solved the problem for various aspect ratios and Grashof numbers (Gr) and concluded that heat transfer
across the base wall increase towards the hypotenuse and base intersection. Karyakin and Sokovishin [9]
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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

presented convection patterns in isosceles triangular enclosure. M. Li and T. Tang [13] studied the steady
viscous flow in a triangular cavity by efficient numerical techniques. They found accurate and efficient
calculations of the flow inside a triangular cavity are presented for high Ra numbers. Moallemi and Jang [14]
investigated mixed convective flow in a bottom heated square lid-driven cavity. The authors studied the effect of
Prandtl number on the flow and heat transfer process. They found that the effects of buoyancy are more
pronounced for higher values of Prandtl number, and also derived a correlation for the average Nusselt number
in terms of the Prandtl number, Reynolds number and Richardson number. Prasad and Koseff [16]
experimentally investigated mixed convection heat transfer in deep lid-driven cavities heated from below. The
authors observed that the heat transfer was rather insensitive to the Richardson number. Later on, Aydin and
Yang [2] numerically studied mixed convection heat transfer in a two-dimensional square cavity having an
aspect ratio of 1. In their configuration, the isothermal sidewalls of the cavity were moving downwards with
uniform velocity while the top wall was adiabatic. Oztop and Dagtekin [15] investigated numerically steadystate two-dimensional mixed convection problem in a vertical two-sided lid-driven differentially heated square
cavity. Hossain and Gorla [7] observed the effects of viscous dissipation on unsteady combined convective heat
transfer to water near its maximum density in a rectangular cavity with isothermal wall. Luo and Yang [12]
numerically found two-dimensional flow in a two-sided lid-driven cavity containing a temperature gradient.
Analysis of the cavity phenomena incorporating a solid material extends its usability in the engineering fields.
Considering the complexity of phenomenon in side an obstructed cavity with moving wall, a brief review on the
relevant literature has been hereby presented. Roychowdhury et al. [18] analyzed the natural convective flow
and heat transfer features for a heated cylinder kept in a square enclosure with different thermal boundary
conditions. Braga and Lemos [4] numerically studied steady laminar natural convection within a square cavity
filled with a fixed amount of conducting solid material consisting of either circular or square obstacles. The
authors showed that the average Nusselt number for cylindrical rods is slightly lower than those for square rods.
Lee and Ha [10] investigated natural convection in a horizontal layer of fluid with a conducting body in the
interior, using an accurate and efficient Chebyshev spectral collocation approach. Later on, the same authors
Lee and Ha [11] also studied natural convection in horizontal layer of fluid with heat generating conducting
body in the interior. Rahman et al. [17] studied effect of a heat conducting horizontal circular cylinder on mhd
mixed convection in a lid-driven cavity along with joule heating. The objective of the present study have been
investigated numerically with the effect of magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) mixed convection flow in a liddriven triangular cavity.

II.

Model Specifications

The physical model considered here is shown in Fig.1, along with the important geometric parameters.
The heat transfer and the fluid flow in a two-dimensional triangular cavity with a fluid whose left wall is
subjected to cold temperature Tc (k) and moving with velocity V. The bottom wall of the cavity is subjected to
hot temperature Th (k) while the inclined wall is kept adiabatic. The fluid was assumed with Prandtl number (Pr
= 0.71-6.0), Reynolds number (Re = 40-100) and Newtonian, and the fluid flow is considered to be laminar. The
properties of the fluid were assumed to be constant.

Adiabatic wall
V(m/s)

g(ms-2)

Tc(k)

X
Th(k)
Figure-1. schematic diagram of the physical system
DOI: 10.9790/5728-11518294

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U(m/s
)
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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

2.1 Mathematical Model
The fundamental laws used to solve the fluid flow and heat transfer problems are the conservation of
mass (continuity equations), conservation of momentums (momentum equations), and conservation of energy
(energy equations), which constitute a set of coupled, nonlinear, and partial differential equations. For laminar
incompressible thermal flow, the buoyancy force is included here as a body force in the v-momentum equation.
The governing equations for the two-dimensional steady flow are found after invoking the Boussinesq
approximation and neglecting radiation and viscous dissipation. Using non-dimensional variables defined in the
nomenclature, the non-dimensional governing equations (1) (4) are obtained as follows:
Continuity equation
U
V

0
X
Y

(1)

Momentum equations
U
U
P 1 2U 2U
U
V

X
Y
X Re X 2 Y 2
V
V
P 1 2V 2V
U
V

) Ra Pr
X
Y
Y Re X 2 Y 2

(2)
(3)

Energy equation

1 2 2
U
V

X
Y Re Pr X 2 Y 2

(4)

2.2 boundary conditions

The dimensionless boundary conditions under consideration can be written as:
At the vertical wall: U = 0 , V= 1, = 0
At the horizontal wall: U = 0 , V= 0, = 1
At the inclined wall: U = 0 , V= 0, 0
N
Where N is the non-dimensional distances either along X or Y direction acting normal to the surface.
The average Nusselt number at the heated wall of the cavity based on the non-dimensional variables may be
1

expressed as Nu
0

y 0

dX and the bulk average temperature defined as av d V /V , where V (m3) is

the cavity volume.

The above equations were normalized using the following dimensionless scales:
X = x/L, Y = y/L, U = u/v0, V = v/v0, Pr = / , T = Th Tc,
Re = UL/, Gr = gTL3/2, =(TTc)/(Th Tc)

III.

Numerical Analysis

The governing equations along with the boundary conditions are solved numerically by employing
Galergkin weighted residual finite techniques. The application of this technique is well described by Taylor and
Hood [19] and Dechaumphai [5, 6].The finite element formulation and computational procedure have been
omitted here for brevity.

IV.

Grid Independence Test

Preliminary results are obtained to inspect the field variables grid independency solutions. Test for the
accuracy of grid fineness has been carried out to find out the optimum grid number. In order to obtain grid
independent solution, a grid refinement study is performed for a triangular cavity with Pr = 0.71, Re= 50 and Ra
= 104. Fig.2 shows, the convergence of the average Nusselt number, Nu at the heated surface with grid
refinement. It is observed that grid independence is achieved with 13967 elements where there is insignificant
change in Nu with further increase of mesh elements. We believe that for this inconsequential change before the
element 13967 should not be taken as for grid independence. In table 1, Six different non-uniform grids with the
following number of nodes and elements were considered for the grid refinement tests: 9138 nodes, 1523
elements; 36102 nodes, 6017 elements; 49260 nodes, 8210 elements; 62280 nodes, 10380 elements; 83802
nodes, 13967 elements; 99192 nodes, 16532elements. From these values,83802 nodes, 13967 elements can be
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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

chosen throughout the simulation to optimize the relation between the accuracy required and the computing
time.
Table 1: Grid Sensitivity Check at Pr = 0.71, Re= 50 and Ra = 104.
Nodes
(elements)
Nu
Time(s)

9138
(1523)
2.4095029
8.297

36102
(6017)
2.5207933
34.0

49260
(8210)
2.5207523
47.703

62280
(10380)
2.6746807
67.297

2.8

83802
(13967)
2.7484171
94.828

2.75818
112.25

13967

2.75

20704

2.7

16532

3670

2.65

Nu

99192 (16532)

10380

2.6
2.55
8210

2.5

6017

2.45
1523

2.4
2.35
0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

Elements Number

Figure-2: convergence of average nusselt number with grid refinement for Pr = 0.71, Re= 40 and Ra = 104.

V.

Result and Discussion

Numerical results are presented in order to conclude the properties of the presence of dimensionless
parameters in lid-driven triangular cavity with a heat conducting horizontal bottom wall and the adiabatic
inclined wall. The left wall of the cavity is kept at cooled temperature T c (k) which is moving with V (m/s)
vertically.
Two-dimensional forms of Navier-Stokes equations along with the energy equations have been solved
using Galerkin finite element method. The dimensionless parameters that must be specified for the system are
Reynolds number Re, Rayleigh number Ra, and Prandtl number Pr. Since so many basic dimensionless
parameters are required to characterize a system, an analysis of all combinations of these parameters is not
practical. The numerical results will be aimed to explain the effect of several parameters at a small fraction of
the possible situations by simplifying the configuration. Results are obtained for a range of Rayleigh number
from 103 to 104 at Pr = 0.71- 6.0 and Re = 40-100, with constant physical properties. The parametric studies for
a wide range of governing parameters show consistent performance of the present numerical approach to obtain
as stream functions and temperature profiles. The computational results indicate that the heat transfer coefficient
is strongly affected by Rayleigh number. Representative distributions of average Nusselt number at the heated
surface and average bulk temperature of the fluid in the cavity will then be presented.
The results were compared with those reported by Basak et al.[3], obtained with an extended
computational domain. In Table 2, a comparison between the average Nusselt numbers is presented. The results
from the present experiment are almost the same as Basak et.al.
Table 2: Comparison of The Results For The Constant Surface Temperature With Pr = 0.71
Nuav
Ra

103
104
105

Present work

Basak et al.[3]

5.49
5.77
7.08

5.40
5.56
7.54

5.1

Effects of Reynolds Number (Re)

The fluid flow patterns inside the cavity are presented in terms of streamlines and isotherms in the figs.
3-4 at the range of Reynolds number Re (Re = 40-100) and Ra =103-104 while Pr = 0.71. Using the definition of
stream function (), the streamlines with positive numerical value corresponds to anti-clockwise circulation,
and those with negative numerical value correspond to clockwise circulation. As expected due to the upward
motion of the bottom wall, fluid rise up along the side of the cold vertical wall and flow down along the right
vertical wall forming a roll with anti-clockwise rotation inside the cavity for the different values of Ra at Re=
40. It is also observed that the orientation of the core in the recirculation cell changes as Reynolds number Re
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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

changes. Next at Re = 50, secondary rotating cells are developed in the cavity for all values of Ra, which
indicates both the conducting force and buoyant force are present in the cavity. In this fig. at low Ra = 103, the
positive numerical valueof stream function is low in the cell, which is due to conductive force occupying most
of the part of the cavity and other two secondary rotating cells due to development buoyant force at the bottom
and inclined wall. However, as Ra increases the value of and the cells become larger in size. It is also seen
from figure 3 that value of of the anticlockwise rotating cell increases sharply and more tightened to the
neighboring boundary wall, indicating a sign of supremacy of free convection in the cavity at Re = 100 and
different Ra.
Now we draw the attention to see the effect of increasing Reynolds number Re on the temperature
distribution in the cavity. From the fig.4, it can be seen that isothermal lines are nearly parallel to the hot wall at
Re = 40 and Ra = 103, which is similar to conduction-like distribution. It is also seen that isothermal lines start
to turn back from the cold wall to the hot wall near the bottom wall at Ra = 5103 and Re = 40, due to the
dominating influence of conduction and forced convection in the lower part of the cavity. More significant
distortion in isothermal lines near the left bottom corner of the cavity is observed at the higher values of Ra. The
isotherm patterns reflect a conductive pattern of energy transfer at the lower values of Re (Re = 40, 50) and a
convective pattern of energy transfer at the higher values of Re (Re = 70, 100). On the other hand, the
convective distortion of isothermal lines start to appear at Ra= 5103 and Re =103. At Ra = 5103 and Re = 70, it
is seen that the isothermal lines turn back towards the left cold wall near the top of the cavity and a thermal
boundary layer is developed near the left vertical (cold) wall due to the dominating influence of the convective
current in the upper part of the cavity. Finally at Ra = 104, the convective distortion in the isotherms become
more and the thermal boundary layer near the cold wall becomes more concentrated with further increasing the
values of Reynolds number due to the strong influence of the convective current.
The effect of Reynolds number on average Nusselt number (Nu) at the heated bottom wall and average
fluid temperature (av) in the cavity are displayed as a function of Rayleigh number at some particular Reynolds
number in figs.5 & 6 for the above mentioned cavity. It is observed that the average Nusselt number at the hot
wall increases considerably in the forced convection dominated region and increases very penetratingly in the
free convection dominated region with increasing Ra for the higher values of Reynolds number Re (Re = 50, 70
and 100). However, maximum values of Nu is found for the highest value of Re (Re = 100) at free convection
dominated region. On the other hand, the average fluid temperature ( av) in the cavity increases gradually for
higher values of Re (Re = 50, 70, 100) and but suddenly fall dramatically for the all values of Re with increasing
Ra. In addition, the values of av are found minimum for Re = 40 at Ra = 104, at free convection dominated
region.
Fig.6 displays the variation of the average bulk temperature against the Rayleigh number for various
Reynolds numbers. The average temperature decreases smoothly with increase of Ra. It is an interesting
observation that at lower Re, the average bulk temperature is affected by Rayleigh number.
Ra= 5103

Ra= 104

1.50

0.50

Ra= 103

1.50

1.50

7
0.2

0.70

0.03
0.03

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0.50

0
0.5

0
1.0

2.00

2.15

0.50

0.59

2.00

2.15

0
2.0 2.33

1.50

1.00

2.50

1.0

1.00

0.27

1.50

Re=40

1.
00

0.50

0.50

2.50

1.33

1.50
1.50 1.00
0.50

3.00

3.0

0.50
1.50
3.00
2.00
3.50
2.00

2.00
0.05

2.50
1.00

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1.50
0.50 0.05

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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

0.50

1.21

0.72

1.21

0.50

0.88
0.50

0.50

0.21

1.29

0.
33

0.72
1.50
2.00

0.04

2.50

1.00
1.50

2.00

0.50

2.50

1.00

Re=70

1.5

1.00

0.72

0.0

1.00
1.50

0.50
2.00

0.06

0.60

0.
33

1.21

3.00

0.60
1.29

0.50

2.00

0.19

0.5

00
2.

3.50

0.50

0.50

1.00

2.00

0.12
.50
1.50 2

0
0.5

0.12

2.5

0.85

0.20

0.50

0.50

1.00

1.00

1.50
2.00

0.18

1.00

1.50
0.50

0.50

1.50
1.83

0.00

0.50

0.50

1.83

0.63

1.00
5

1.50

50
0.

1.50

0.2

2.00

2.50
0.50

0.50

1.30

3.00

1.50

0.50

1.00

5
0
0.8 1.3

0.50

0.50

85
0.

0.8

0.20

0.50

Re=100

0.63

1.0

0.50

2.50

0.20

Figure-3: Streamlines patterns for different Re (40, 70,100) when Pr = 0.71.

Ra= 103

28

275.0

0.0

2.
97

Ra= 104

0.0

310.00
5.0
0

31

6.6

00
5.

.92

301.92
29

31 2

.00

285.00
0

2 90

77
7.

290.00

0.0

0.0

305.00
31

28

.51

305.00

300.00

315.00
318.60

295.00

30 7

295.00

310.00

285.00

305.00
300.00

Re=40

275.00

30

290.00

28

273.43

300.00

31

27

Ra= 5103

318.66

319.83

5
8.1
31 319.44

27
2.
7
73 2

285.00
285.00

300.00

5.0

6.
86

31

312.94

280.0
0
285.00
300.00

.00 28
0

285

7.
43

310.00

5.0

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30

302.34

29

302.24

305.00

290.00

305.00

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3
.31 08.
6

0.0

317.52
319.15

30 7

31

0.0

315.00

295.00

31

305.00

295.0

Re =70

.00

274.03

275.0

31

10
3.

275.00

273.57

31 9

.18

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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

3.
02

0
280.0

315.00

8.
06

.40
300.00

31

0
3.4 .24
7
31

3 02

285.00
31

31

319.41

307.71

.00

7.
72

.00

295.00

.88

.00

310.00

2.5

305

2 95

00
0.

30

315.00

3 06

290.00

305.00

0.0

305.00
300.00

7.
95

31

0.0

280

30

30
290.00

31

Re= 100

.94
2 73
275.00

285.00

28 0

.00 2
7

273.37

5 .0

27

Figure-4: Isotherms patterns for different Re (40, 70,100) when Pr = 0.71.

0.65
3.4

Re=40
Re=50
Re=70
Re=100

3.2

0.6
0.55

av

Nu

3
2.8

0.45

2.6

Re= 40
Re= 50
Re=70
Re= 100

0.4

2.4

0.35

2.2
2

0.5

0.3
2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

2000

4000

Ra

Figure-5: effect of average nusselt number

and rayleigh number while Pr = 0.71.

6000

8000

10000

Ra

Figure-6: effect of average bulk temperature

and rayleigh number while Pr = 0.71.

5.2

Effects of Prandtl Number (Pr)

Figs.78 display the effects of Ra (103104) and Pr (0.716.0) while the bottom wall is heated and the
left moving wall is maintained at cold temperature. The fluid near the hot (bottom) wall is of lower density, so it
moves upward while the relatively heavy fluid near cold (left) wall moves downward and this fluid is heated up.
Thus the fluid motion completes the circulation. As mentioned before by the definition of stream function (),
the positive number of the streamlines corresponds to anti-clockwise circulation, and those with negative
number corresponds to clockwise circulation in the cavity. Note that, for steady flow, streamlines are equivalent
to the paths followed by the individual particles in the fluid. Results indicate that at low Rayleigh number (Ra =
103), the isotherm lines are smooth and monotonic as shown for Pr = 0.71 in Figure 7. The magnitudes of the
stream function are very small. This illustrates that at low Ra the flow is mostly due to conduction.
At Ra = 5103 and Pr = 0.71, the circulations near the central regime are stronger and consequently the
thermal boundary layer starts getting shifted towards the left wall (fig.7).The presence of significant convection
is also exhibited in the temperature profile which gets pushed towards the upper portion of left wall. As
Rayleigh number increases to 104, the buoyancy driven circulation inside the cavity is also increased as seen
from a greater magnitudes of the stream function (fig.8). From the fig.8 for Pr = 6.0, it shows the circulations
are bigger near the center due to convection and least at the vicinity wall due to no-slip boundary conditions.
The greater circulation in central regime follows a progressive packaging around the center of rotation, and a
more and more pronounced compression of the isotherms towards the bottom and left corner of triangular cavity
occurs. Due to high circulations, the temperature contours with 300.00 condensed in a very small regime at the
bottom wall and this may cause bigger heat transfer rates at the bottom wall. It may also be distinguished that
the higher circulation pushes fluid near the upper region of the left wall, and the fluid is pulled away from the
central region of the left wall. Consequently, at Ra = 104, the temperature gradients near the bottom wall are
found to be significantly high.
The effects of Prandtl number on average Nusselt number Nu at the heated surface and average bulk
temperature( av)in the cavity is illustrated at figs.9 & 10 with Re =50. From these figs., it is found that the
average Nusselt number Nu moves up calmly with increasing Pr. Moreover, it is also to be highlighted that the
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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

highest heat transfer rate occurs for the highest values of Pr (= 6.0) .This is because, the fluid with Pr = 7.0 has
a lower thermal diffusivity than that of the fluid with Pr = 0.72. On the other hand, the average bulk
temperature( av) of the fluid in the cavity increases very sharply in forced dominated region inside the cavity
and reached to the highest bulk temperature rate at Pr=0.71.But in the free dominated region bulk temperature
rate is slower for the higher values of Pr .
Ra= 103

Ra= 5103

27

273.19

3.0
27 1
3.
22

275.00

275.00

280.0

273.56

.00

5.0
28

315

5.0

0
0.0

31

315.00
318.63

290.00

28

300.00

5.0

81
1 8.

3.3

285.00

27

.00
3 10

298.44
296.92

295.00

315.00

280.00 275.0
2 75

.00

315.00

0.0

0.0

30

31

0.0

3
298.5

00
5.

285.00 290.00

300.31

295.0

302.3

30

31

00
5.

315.00

0.0

46
6.

29

30

30

5.
00

290.00

285.00

.3
298

5.
00

301.06

285.00

30

300.00

30

290.00

280.00

Pr = 3.0

0 .0

302.21

29

00
5.

31

29

305.00

285.00

0.0

.00

302.1

69
7.

31

30 0

285.00

00
310 .
0
5.0
30
00
3 0 0.

317.31

319.0

8.
17

305.00

30

30

280.00

275.00

Pr = 0.71

Ra= 104

301.71

285.00

303.63

300.93

30

300.00

280.00

.62

297.15

0.0
0

.00

.00
2 95

315.00

29

302.46

21
9.

298.57

298.08

305.00

296.92
295.00

31

290

0.0

315.00

280.00

31

295.00

00
5.

2
298

280.00

298.06
296.77

8
.3
99

30

00
5.

Pr = 6.0

300.00

290.00

300.00
303.07

290.00
320.00

310.00

Figure-7: Isotherms patterns for different Pr (0.71, 3.0, 6.0) when Re = 40.

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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

Ra= 5103

Ra= 104

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

1.00

0.02

0.50

1.00

1.00

2.00

0.06

2.5

3.00

3.50

1.50
1.50

0.29

2.00

0.29

0.50

3.00

3.00

1.50

1.00

3.00
1.50

0.70.50
6

00
2.

2.00

1.00

0.50

1.00

1.00

1.50

2.00 1.0

2.
50

3.00
2.00

2.00

0.50

0.29

1.
00

1.5

1.50

2.50

0.76

2.50

1.50

2.50

1.00

1.50

0.29

0.50

1.00
1.50
3.00

0.09

1.00

2.00

Pr = 3.0

00
1.

0.50

0.37

1.00

2.00

0.50

0.50

0.37

0.04

0.6

1.00
1.50

0.15

0.37

0.50

0.50

3.0

3.50
1.50

1.50

2.65

2.50

2.0

1.50

3.00

2.00
1.00

1.50

1.00

1.50

1.50

0.50

0.08

0.50

2.00

1.50

2.00
3.00

2.50

Pr = 0.71

Ra= 103

3.00

0.50

2.00

1.00

1.50
0.50

2.00

3.00

1.31

0.7
3

1.50

2.50

2.00
1.00
3.00

2.00

0.3

0.7
1.00

2.
50

0.50

3.00

1.00
0.50

2.00

0.12

1.31
0.50

3.
50

0.50

1.50

2.00

0.3

0.50
2.00

2.00

Pr = 6.0

1.0

0.50
0.50

1.00

1.00
2.50

1.50
1.00

Figure-8: streamline patterns for different Pr (0.71, 3.0, 6.0) when Re = 40.
9
Pr= 0.71
Pr= 2
Pr= 3
Pr= 6

8
7

0.6

0.55

Nu

av

5
4

0.5

Pr= 0.71
Pr= 2
Pr= 3
Pr= 6

2
0.45
1
0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

2000

4000

Ra

Figure-9: effect of average nusselt number

and rayleigh number while Re = 40
DOI: 10.9790/5728-11518294

6000

8000

10000

Ra

Figure-10: effect of average bulk temperature and

rayleigh number while Re = 40.
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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

5.3

Effect of cavity aspect ratio (CAR)

In order to investigate the convective heat transfer behavior at other aspect ratios, computations have
also been done for three additional cavity aspect ratios of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5, while keeping Re = 50, and Pr = 0.71.
The flow patterns and temperature fields for CAR = 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 have been compared in Figs.11 and 12.
From the fig.11, it has been seen that isothermal lines are nearly parallel to the hot wall at Re = 50 and
Pr = 0.71, which is similar to conduction-like distribution. It is also seen that isothermal lines start to turn back
from the hot wall to the cold wall near the bottom wall at Ra = 5103 (disappear in paper) and Re = 50 due to
the dominating influence of conduction and forced convection in the lower part of the cavity. More significant
distortion in isothermal lines near the left bottom corner of the cavity is observed at the higher values of Ra.
At Ra = 103, it has been seen that isotherm lines are nearly linear and occupy most of the part of the cavity for
the case of CAR = 0.5, the isothermal lines becomes non-linear and concentrated near the hot wall in the cavity
with the increasing values of CAR, because of the distance between the hot wall and the cold wall. In particular
the isotherm line 315.00 is near the hot wall but it is away from the hot wall with increase of CAR. The isotherm
lines are more distorted for Ra = 5 103 and 104, and become more dense with heated wall with increase of CAR
from 0.5 to 1.5. As a result, thermal boundary layer concentrated with cold wall due to strong convective flow.
In the case of stream line, some recirculation cells have developed in the cavity. This recirculation cell gradually
increases with the increase of the value of CAR, due to increasing the available space for the fluid in the cavity.
It is also observed that secondary rotating cells are developed in the cavity for all values of Ra, which indicates
both the conducting force and buoyant force are present in the cavity.
The average Nusselt number (Nu) at the heated source and the average bulk temperature ( av) of the
fluid in the cavity for CAR = 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 have been shown in fig.13. The average Nusselt number and
average temperature of the fluid at the hot wall is increased with increasing values of CAR. This is because of
the increase of space in the cavity. The maximum value of Nu is found for the CAR = 1.5 at free convection
dominated region but the average fluid temperature (av) in the cavity increases gradually with respect to CAR.
Frame 001 19 Oct 2012

Frame 001 19 Oct 2012

Ra= 104

Ra= 10

0.4

0.4
273.48
275.00

CAR =0.5

273.67
275.00

305.00310.00
0.2 280.00

0.2
280.00
285.00

5
29

.00

285.00
295.00

00
0..00
33110315.00

315.00
317.89

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.0

2.
97

0.2

28

27

0.4

285.00

300.00

31

.00
2 90

0.0
28

77
7.

00
5.

315.00
318.60

301.92

29

DOI: 10.9790/5728-11518294

290.00

295.00

310.00

285.00

30

305.00

310.00
5.0
0

275.00
305.00
300.00

CAR =1.0

273.43

319.83

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5
8.1
31 319.44

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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

275.00
272.88
273.42

CAR =1.5

305.00
275.00
305.00
301.84
310.00
305.00

300.00

295.00

317.75

310.00

295.00

319.48

318.69

Figure-11: Isotherms patterns for different CAR (0.5, 1.0, 1.5) when Pr = 0.71 and Re=40.

Frame 001 19 Oct 2012

Frame 001 19 Oct 2012

Ra= 103

Ra= 104
0.5

0.4

1.6

0.4

3.60

1.20

0.2

0.60
0.04

0.1

0.20

0.2

0.1

0.0

0.3

0.4

0.5

1.40
1.20
0.20
0.80 1.00
0.60
1.601.40

2.20
2.00
1.20
1.20
0.20
0

0.20

0.1

0.2

X 0.3

0.4

0.5

0.50

0.07

0.80 1.00
0.40
0.07
1.20
0.04

1.40 0.20
0.40
1.60
0.80
1.80

0.3

1.60

2.40
60

0.2

2.00

CAR =0.5

2.0

2.50

1.50

1.50

0.27

1.50

DOI: 10.9790/5728-11518294

0.2

0.70

1.0

0.59

2.00

CAR =1.0

1.
00

0.50

2.50
1.50

0.03
0.03

2.00

2.50
1.00

3.00

3.0

0.50
1.50
2.00
3.00
2.00
3.50
2.00

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2.00
1.50
0.50 0.05

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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

1.00

0.50

1.50

1.00
0.25

1.00

2.50
4.00

0.50

4.00

CAR =1.5

1.50
2.00

2.
00

0.50

1.50
1.50

0.25
1.00

0.04

0.50

2.50

3.00

4.50

1.00

0.04

0.50

Frame 001 19 Oct 2012 Nusselt number for different Pr at Re=50

Frame 001(0.5,
20 Nov 2012
Tempereture
for different
at Re=50 and
and Pr=0.71
Figure-12: Stream line patterns for different CAR
1.0, Bulk1.5)
when
Pr CAR
= 0.71
Re=40

4
CAR= 0.5
CAR= 1.0
CAR= 1.5

3.5

CAR= 0.5
CAR= 1.0
CAR= 1.5

1.5

3
Nu

av
1

2.5
0.5

2
0

1.5
2000

4000

6000

Ra

8000

10000

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

Ra

Figure-13: Effect of average Nusselt number

and Rayleigh number while Re = 40

VI.

Figure-14: Effect of average bulk temperature

and Rayleigh number while Re = 40.

Conclusion

A finite element method for steady-state incompressible conjugate effect of mixed convection and
conduction has been presented. The finite element equations were derived from the governing flow equations
that consist of the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy equations. The derived finite element equations
are nonlinear requiring an iterative technique solver. The Galerkin weighted residual method is applied to solve
these nonlinear equations for solutions of the nodal velocity components, temperatures, and pressures. The
above example demonstrates the capability of the finite element formulation that can provide insight to steadystate incompressible conjugate effect of mixed convection and conduction problem. The investigation is carried
out for a number of relevant dimensionless groups, namely Rayleigh number Ra, Hartmann number Ha,
Reynolds number Re, and Prandtl numbers Pr. From an examination of heat transfer and fluid flow phenomena
revealed by the numerical experiments, the following major conclusions have been drawn:
Interesting behavior of the flow and thermal fields with varying Reynolds number is observed. In
addition, the numerical solutions indicate that the increasing values of Re leads to higher heat transfer
rate from the heat source but other side the average bulk temperature decline significantly.
As Ra escalates the value of the magnitude of the stream function is and the cells become larger in size,
become more attested to the boundary wall.
The impact of Prandtl number on the flow and thermal fields in the cavity is found to be more
pronounced, if Re is kept fixed. The maximum heat transfer is experimented at the highest value of Pr for
the considered value of Ra.
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Numerical Analysis on Mixed Convection Flow in a Lid-Driven Triangular Cavity

The average bulk temperature is high for Pr = 0.71 in free convection region.
Thermal boundary layer thickness is thinner for increasing of Rayleigh number because slowly the
conductive heat transfer turns into convective heat transfer.
Various vortices entering into the flow field and a secondary vortex at the inclined and bottom wall of the
cavity is seen in the streamlines.

Acknowledgements
Authors would like to thank the Department of Mathematics, Bangladesh University of Business &
Technology (BUBT), for providing computer facility during this work. We also express our gratitude to
anonymous reviewers for their suggestions which improved the quality of the manuscript.

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