Mixed convection flow and heat transfer over different geometries of backward-facing step

Mixed convective flow and heat transfer characteristics for two-dimensional laminar flow in a channel with different geometries of a backward-facing step are presented for various Grashof numbers. The wall downstream of the step was maintained at a constant temperature; TH, while the upper wall was considered isothermal at Tc. The wall upstream of the step and the backward-facing step were considered as adiabatic surfaces. Navier-Stokes equations were employed to represent the transport phenomena in the channel. Further, the governing equations were solved using a finite element formulation based on the Galerkin method of weighted residuals. The numerical results of the reattachement lengths for recirculation region in a vertical channel with a backward-facing step (Re = 100) were validated by comparing them against documented studies in the literature. The results of this investigation show that the local skin friction coefficient increases with an increase in Grashof numbers. The results of this investigation show that configuration II of the backward-facing step (inclined) exhibited an absence of vortices for all values of Grashof numbers and consequently the minimum skin friction coefficient. However, configuration I is found to have the largest local skin friction coefficient.