A transient free convection study with temperature-dependent viscosity in a square cavity with a local heat source

Unsteady natural convection inside of a differentially-heated square enclosure filled with a fluid of temperature-dependent viscosity has been numerically studied. A mathematical model formulated in the dimensionless stream function and vorticity has been solved by a finite difference method of the second order accuracy. The effect of dimensionless time and Prandtl number on streamlines and isotherms has been investigated for R a = 10⁵. The results clearly demonstrate an evolution of fluid flow and heat transfer in the case of variable viscosity fluid. (paper)