Effects of variable density on oscillatory flow around a non-conducting horizontal circular cylinder

The analysis of the oscillatory mixed convection flow of electrically conducting fluid along a nonconducting horizontal circular cylinder in the presence of variable density is performed. The density of electrically conducting fluid is assumed to be an exponential function of temperature. The governing boundary layer equations are transformed by adopting primitive variable transformation, which is integrated numerically by employing the finite difference method. The influence of the various physical parameters, density/temperature parameter m, mixed-convection parameter λ, magnetic force parameter ξ, magnetic Prandtl number γ, and Prandtl number Pr, is interpreted graphically and numerically. The impact of these pertinent parameters on velocity, temperature, and magnetic field profiles at positions α=π/6,π/3, and π on the surface of a nonconducting cylinder is examined and then used to compute oscillatory skin friction, heat transfer, and current density. From these results, it is concluded that an increase in the density/temperature parameter m means an increase in the velocity of the fluid particles due to an increase in the buoyancy forces. Due to this reason, a good response in steadiness and amplitude of oscillation is noted at an angle π/3 for heat transfer and current density and velocity field at π/6. Furthermore, it is noticed that the decrease in the density parameter m leads to a sharp increase in the velocity of fluid at the position α=π/6 for a lower Prandtl number Pr = 0.1.