Boundary-Layer Similarity Solutions for Rotating Flows with and without Magnetic Interaction

The laminar boundary layer produced by the rotating flow of a viscous incompressible fluid over a stationary infinite disk is considered. The external velocity is assumed to be tangential and to vary as some power of the radius, i.e., v∞ ∼ rn. The case in which the fluid is electrically conducting and interacting with a magnetic field aligned with the axis of the disk is also considered. Boundary-layer similarity equations, containing the parameter n and a magnetic interaction parameter are derived. Solutions for n between plus one (solid-body rotation) and minus one (the potential vortex) are investigated.