Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 September 2016
In this work, we investigate electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) flow of Powell-Eyring fluid through a slit confinement. The approximate analytical solution and numerical result of EMHD velocity are obtained by using homotopy perturbation method and Chebyshev spectral method, respectively. The analytical solutions are found to be in good agreement with numerical results under the same conditions. The influences of Hartmann number Ha, electrical field strength parameter S, the Powell-Eyring fluid parameters γ and β on velocity are discussed in detail. It is found that the volume flow rate of Newtonian fluid is always larger than that of Powell-Eyring fluid. The results reveal the intricate interaction between EMHD effect and fluid rheology involving non-Newtonian fluid. Therefore, the results are useful in dealing with some non-Newtonian biomicrofluidic systems.