Non-orthogonal stagnation-point flow of a micropolar fluid

This paper considers the problem of steady two-dimensional flow of a micropolar fluid impinging obliquely on a flat plate. The flow under consideration is a generalization of the classical modified Hiemenz flow for a micropolar fluid which occurs in the boundary layer near an orthogonal stagnation point. A coordinate decomposition transforms the full governing equations into a primary equation describing the modified Hiemenz flow for a micropolar fluid and an equation for the tangential flow coupled to the primary solution. The solution to the boundary-value problem is governed by two non-dimensional parameters: the material parameter K and the ratio of the microrotation to skin friction parameter n. The obtained ordinary differential equations are solved numerically for some values of the governing parameters. The primary consequence of the free stream obliqueness is the shift of the stagnation point toward the incoming flow. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.