Abstract: The cases of large Reynolds number and small expansion ratio for the asymmetric laminar flow through a two-dimensional porous expanding channel are considered. The Navier-Stokes equations are reduced to a nonlinear fourth-order ordinary differential equation by introducing a time and space similar transformation. A singular perturbation method is used for the large suction Reynolds case to obtain an asymptotic solution by matching outer and inner solutions. For the case of small expansion ratios, we are able to obtain asymptotic solutions by double parameter expansion in either a small Reynolds number or a small asymmetric parameter. The asymptotic solutions indicate that the Reynolds number and expansion ratio play an important role in the flow behavior. Numerical methods are also designed to confirm the correctness of the present asymptotic solutions.

Key words: pump, variable height gap, pressure distribution modeling, adaptive finite element method, singular perturbation method, regular perturbation method, porous expanding channel, expansion ratio