Natural convection from a semi-infinite flat plate inclined at a small angle to the horizontal in a saturated porous medium

Summary The free convection boundary layer on a semi-infinite heated flat plate which is inclined at a small angle to the horizontal in a saturated porous medium is considered. When the plate is inclined upwards, series solutions, one valid near the leading edge and the other valid at large distances from it, are obtained. Sufficient terms in the leading edge solution are taken so that the two asymptotic solutions may be joined. When the plate is inclined downwards the series solution valid near the leading edge is again obtained and sufficient terms are again employed to investigate the nature of the boundary layer separation. There is no evidence of a singularity at the separation point and a mathematical explanation of the behaviour at separation is presented.With 10 Figures