Abstract
In this work, comparisons between the numerical solutions for forced convective flow in composite channels, partly occupied by a homogeneous (clear) fluid and partly by a fluid saturated porous medium, and the exact solutions for the same problems are carried out. This is done to establish limitations of the single-domain approach utilized to obtain the numerical solutions. These limitations result from the assumptions which are implicitly invoked once the single-domain approach is utilized to model fluid flow in the interface region between the porous medium and a clear fluid. It is shown that the single-domain approach results in correct matching of the shear stress at the porous/fluid interface only if the adjustable coefficient in the representation for the excess stress equals zero and also if the effective viscosity of the porous medium equals to the fluid viscosity.
