Effect of couple stresses on transient MHD Poiseuille flow (Q1062885)

The unsteady laminar flow of an electrically conducting viscous fluid between parallel insulating plates subject to a transverse magnetic field is considered. The plates are fixed and flow is due to a constant pressure gradient. The induced field is taken into account. The fluid is incompressible and of couple stress type. The defining equations are coupled and numerical solutions for different values of couple stress parameter are obtained. The velocity and induced magnetic field profiles are sketched as functions of time, Hartmann number, and magnetic Prandtl number. The velocity decreases with increase in couple stress parameter.