Local similarity solution of unsteady hydromagnetic convection flow of a micropolar fluid along a continuously moving permeable plate

An unsteady two-dimensional convective flow of a micropolar fluid along a moving vertical porous flat plate in the presence of a magnetic field has been studied numerically. The governing time-dependent boundary-layer equations are reduced to a set of non-linear ordinary differential equations by introducing a new class of similarity transformations. Solutions for the steady case are obtained and compared with previously published results, which shows excellent agreement. The local similarity solutions for the flow, microrotation and heat transfer characteristics of the unsteady case are presented graphically for various material parameters entering into the problem. The effects of the pertinent parameters on the local skin-friction coefficient, plate couple-stress and the rate of heat transfer are also displayed in tabulated form. The results show that rate of shear stress and rate of heat transfer in an unsteady flow are respectively higher and lower than those of the steady flow for both Newtonian and micropolar fluids.