THE MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC JEFFREY-HAMEL PROBLEM FOR A WEAKLY CONDUCTING FLUID

Abstract

Exact solutions of the equations of magnetohydrodynamics are shown to exist for the radial flow of a viscous incompressible fluid between non-parallel, plane walls. Both diverging and converging flows are discussed, using the approximation of small magnetic Reynolds number. It is found that the maximum permissible channel angle for purely divergent flow can be increased without limit by a sufficiently strong azimuthal magnetic field. Solutions of boundary layer type are obtained for converging flow at high Reynolds numbers, and it is shown that the magnetic field reduces the displacement thickness of the boundary layer.