Multiple solutions for the laminar flow in a porous pipe with suction at slowly expanding or contracting wall

Abstract: In this paper, the asymptotic solution for the similarity equation of the laminar flow in a porous pipe with suction at expanding and contracting wall has been obtained using the singular perturbation method. However, this solution neglects exponentially small terms in the matching process. To take into account these exponentially small terms, a method involving the inclusion of exponentially small terms in a perturbation series was used to find the two solutions analytically. The series involving the exponentially small terms and expansion ratio predicts dual solutions. Furthermore, the result indicates that the expansion ratio has much important influence on the solutions. When the expansion ratio is zero, it is a special case that Terrill has discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]