Abstract
The paper highlights the application of a recent seminumerical successive linearization method (SLM) in solving highly coupled, nonlinear boundary value problem. The method is presented in detail by solving the problem of free convection flow due to a vertical plate embedded in a non-Darcy thermally stratified porous medium saturated with a non-Newtonian power-law liquid. Thermal-diffusion (Soret) and variable viscosity effects are taken into consideration. The Ostwald-de Waele power-law model is used to characterize the non-Newtonian behavior of the fluid. The governing partial differential equations are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations and solved by SLM. The accuracy of the SLM has been tested by comparing the results with those obtained using the shooting technique. The effect of various physical parameters such as power-law index, Soret number, variable viscosity parameter, and thermal stratification parameter on the dynamics of the fluid is analyzed through computed results. Heat and mass transfer coefficients are also shown graphically for different values of the parameters.