RÉSUMÉ

An analysis is performed for mixed convection flows through a fluid saturated porous medium adjacent to a vertical surface with the heating condition of power law variation in wall temperature. The entire mixed convection regime is covered by the single parameter c = [1 + (Ra_x + Pe_x)^1/2]^-1 from the pure forced convection limit (c = 1) to the pure free convection limit (c = 0). In modeling the flows through porous media, non-slip boundary condition, the variation of permeability and thermal conductivity due to packing of particles are taken into consideration. A finite difference scheme was used to solve the system of transformed governing equations. Velocity and temperature profiles, and local Nusselt number are presented. It is found that as c decreases from 1 to 0, the thermal boundary layer thickness increases first and then decreases. Numerical results show that the variation of permeability effect has significant influences on velocity, temperature profiles and heat transfer rates from vertical surface.