Natural-convection boundary-layer flow over a heated plate with arbitrary inclination

The natural-convection boundary-layer flow over a semi-infinite heated plate of arbitrary inclination is studied by first identifying a set of combined boundary-layer variables and then casting the governing equations into a universal form. The generalized problem yields the existing similarity solutions for the limiting cases of horizontal and vertical plates, and describes the gradual transition of the flow pattern between these two limits at distances from the leading edge which depend on the inclination angle. Near the leading edge the buoyancy force acting normal to the plate causes an ‘impulsive⁵ driving force to the fluid motion along the plate, while the ‘regular’ driving force exerted by the tangential buoyancy force becomes dominating downstream. Both the exact and the locally-similar solutions are obtained and are found to agree well with each other.