SINOPSIS

The present study deals with the theoretical analysis of time-dependent periodic variation in suction velocity and permeability on free convection unsteady flow of a viscous incompressible fluid past an infinite vertical porous plate. The flow is three-dimensional because the variation of permeability and suction velocity is transverse to the potential flow. Considering the free stream velocity to be uniform, series solutions are obtained for the flow field and temperature field. Expressions for the skin friction and heat transfer are also derived. The effects of all parameters on velocity, temperature, skin friction, and heat transfer rate (Nusselt number) are presented graphically and in tabular form followed by a detailed discussion. The model finds applications in nuclear heat transfer processes, metallurgy, aerospace/naval propulsion, and energy systems.