A fully non-linear theory of electro-magneto-hydrodynamics

Abstract

A number of analytical models exist for both electrohydrodynamics (EHD) and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). At present there are no practical yet consistent models for the combined electro-magneto-hydrodynamic (EMHD) effects which occur quite often in actual situations. This work represents an attempt to develop such a fully consistent analytical model for multi-dimensional, steady and unsteady, compressible and incompressible flows of electrically conducting fluids under the simultaneous or separate influence of externally applied and internally generated electric and magnetic fields. The approach is based on the fundamental laws of continuum mechanics and thermodynamics with all assumptions clearly stated and consistently applied. The resulting second order EMHD model allows for non-linear electric and thermal conduction and electromagnetic stress within the medium. The new model is therefore superior to the existing EMHD models and represents a tractable set of equations suitable for detailed numerical discretization and integration. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.