Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle

Abdullah Ahmed Foisal; Akimul Islam Saikat; Azam Khan Muzahid; Mainul Islam

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13

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Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle

Abdullah Ahmed Foisal^*

, Akimul Islam Saikat

, Azam Khan Muzahid

, Mainul Islam

Published in International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 4)

Received: 15 October 2025 Accepted: 27 October 2025 Published: 3 December 2025

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Abstract

This study numerically explores natural convection in a trapezoidal enclosure with a wavy upper boundary and a centrally placed circular cavity of varying radius. The left vertical wall is maintained at a low temperature, while the right wall is heated. The remaining boundaries are adiabatic. Three obstacle sizes are considered with radius 0.05, 0.08 and 0.03 representing different levels of geometric blockage. Simulations are carried out in COMSOL Multiphysics for Rayleigh numbers between 10³ and 10⁶ under the Boussinesq approximation. Flow circulation temperature contours and heat transfer performance are analyzed for each configuration. The results indicate that enlarging the circular cavity alters the strength and structure of buoyancy-driven vortices, influencing thermal stratification and the effective heat transfer rate across the cavity. At low Rayleigh numbers conduction dominates and influence of cavity size limited whereas at higher Rayleigh numbers natural convection becomes significant and the obstacle radius strongly affects vortex dynamics and Nusselt number distribution. The findings provide insight into the coupled effect of cavity geometry and buoyancy intensity offering guidance for the design of thermal system with internal obstacles and irregular enclosures. The main objective of this paper is to find out the effect of natural convection of air within a wavy chamber using finite element methods and to investigate the influence of heated wall on free convection flow numerically.

Published in	International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13
Page(s)	88-94
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Heat Transfer, Natural Convection, Circular Cavity

References

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[2]	Baytas, A. C., & Pop et al.” Heatline Visualization of Natural Convection Flows within Trapezoidal Cavities”. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 26(8), 1139–1148. (1999) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0017-9310(98)00208-7
[3]	De Vahl Davis, G. “Natural Convection of Air in a Square Cavity: a Bench Mark Numerical Solution.” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, 3, 249-264. (1983) https://doi.org/10.1002/fld.1650030305
[4]	Esfe, M. H., & Chamkha, A. J.” Numerical Simulation of Thermal Radiation Influence on Natural Convection in Trapezoidal Enclosures.” Journal: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer’ 145, 118783. (2019) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.118783
[5]	Mahapatra, T. R., & Saha, B. C. “Natural Convection in a Cavity with Trapezoidal Heat Sources Mounted on the Bottom Wall” Journal: SN Applied Sciences, 2, 1722 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-1927-9
[6]	Hussein, H. A” Finite Volume Simulation of Natural Convection in a Trapezoidal Cavity” Journal: University of Babylon Journal of Fluid Mechanics 10, 1-9(2013).
[7]	M. A., & Shehata, A. I.” Natural Convection Inside a Trapezoidal Cavity Under Multidirectional Magnetic Impacts” Journal: Alexandria Engineering Journal. 61(11), 8923-8936. (2022) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2022.07.021
[8]	Basak, T., & Pop, I. “Magnetohydrodynamic Natural Convection in Trapezoidal Cavities” Journal: International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 129, 172-188. (2018) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2018.03.013
[9]	Lasfer, M., & Oztop, H. F. “Numerical Study of Laminar Natural Convection in a Side-Heated Trapezoidal Cavity at Various Inclined Heated Sidewalls” Journal: WSEAS Transactions on Heat and Mass Transfer. 4(4), 91-100. (2009)
[10]	Hasan, M., & Mahmud, M. A. “Natural Convection Inside a Porous Trapezoidal Enclosure with Wavy Top Surface” Journal: AIP Conference Proceedings. 2121(1), 030005(2019) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5115884
[11]	Esfe, M. H., & Chamkha ”Simulation of Natural Convection Heat Transfer in a 2-D Trapezoidal Enclosure” Journal: International Journal of Thermofluids. 21, 100614.9(2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2023.100614
[12]	Mahapatra, T. R., & Saha, B. C. “Natural Convection Inside a Trapezoidal Cavity with Nanofluid and Magnetic Field” Journal: Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. 143(1), 687–703(2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-09987-z
[13]	Mirzaei, Amirmohammad, et al. "Convection heat transfer of MHD fluid flow in the circular cavity with various obstacles: Finite element approach." International journal of thermofluids 20 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijft.2023.100522
[14]	Rashid, Umair, Dianchen Lu, and Quaid Iqbal. "Nanoparticles impacts on natural convection nanofluid flow and heat transfer inside a square cavity with fixed a circular obstacle." Case Studies in Thermal Engineering 44 (2023): 102829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2023.102829
[15]	Hossain, M. S., Alim, M. A. & Andallah, L.S. Numerical Simulation of MHD Natural Convection Flow Within Porous Trapezoidal Cavity With Heated Triangular Obstacle. Int. J. Appl. Comput. Math 6, 166 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40819-020-00921-3

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APA Style

Foisal, A. A., Saikat, A. I., Muzahid, A. K., Islam, M. (2025). Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle. International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences, 11(4), 88-94. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13

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ACS Style

Foisal, A. A.; Saikat, A. I.; Muzahid, A. K.; Islam, M. Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle. Int. J. Fluid Mech. Therm. Sci. 2025, 11(4), 88-94. doi: 10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13

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AMA Style

Foisal AA, Saikat AI, Muzahid AK, Islam M. Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle. Int J Fluid Mech Therm Sci. 2025;11(4):88-94. doi: 10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13,
  author = {Abdullah Ahmed Foisal and Akimul Islam Saikat and Azam Khan Muzahid and Mainul Islam},
  title = {Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle
},
  journal = {International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {88-94},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijfmts.20251104.13},
  abstract = {This study numerically explores natural convection in a trapezoidal enclosure with a wavy upper boundary and a centrally placed circular cavity of varying radius. The left vertical wall is maintained at a low temperature, while the right wall is heated. The remaining boundaries are adiabatic. Three obstacle sizes are considered with radius 0.05, 0.08 and 0.03 representing different levels of geometric blockage. Simulations are carried out in COMSOL Multiphysics for Rayleigh numbers between 103 and 106 under the Boussinesq approximation. Flow circulation temperature contours and heat transfer performance are analyzed for each configuration. The results indicate that enlarging the circular cavity alters the strength and structure of buoyancy-driven vortices, influencing thermal stratification and the effective heat transfer rate across the cavity. At low Rayleigh numbers conduction dominates and influence of cavity size limited whereas at higher Rayleigh numbers natural convection becomes significant and the obstacle radius strongly affects vortex dynamics and Nusselt number distribution. The findings provide insight into the coupled effect of cavity geometry and buoyancy intensity offering guidance for the design of thermal system with internal obstacles and irregular enclosures. The main objective of this paper is to find out the effect of natural convection of air within a wavy chamber using finite element methods and to investigate the influence of heated wall on free convection flow numerically.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle

AU  - Abdullah Ahmed Foisal
AU  - Akimul Islam Saikat
AU  - Azam Khan Muzahid
AU  - Mainul Islam
Y1  - 2025/12/03
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13
T2  - International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences
JF  - International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences
JO  - International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences
SP  - 88
EP  - 94
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2469-8113
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13
AB  - This study numerically explores natural convection in a trapezoidal enclosure with a wavy upper boundary and a centrally placed circular cavity of varying radius. The left vertical wall is maintained at a low temperature, while the right wall is heated. The remaining boundaries are adiabatic. Three obstacle sizes are considered with radius 0.05, 0.08 and 0.03 representing different levels of geometric blockage. Simulations are carried out in COMSOL Multiphysics for Rayleigh numbers between 103 and 106 under the Boussinesq approximation. Flow circulation temperature contours and heat transfer performance are analyzed for each configuration. The results indicate that enlarging the circular cavity alters the strength and structure of buoyancy-driven vortices, influencing thermal stratification and the effective heat transfer rate across the cavity. At low Rayleigh numbers conduction dominates and influence of cavity size limited whereas at higher Rayleigh numbers natural convection becomes significant and the obstacle radius strongly affects vortex dynamics and Nusselt number distribution. The findings provide insight into the coupled effect of cavity geometry and buoyancy intensity offering guidance for the design of thermal system with internal obstacles and irregular enclosures. The main objective of this paper is to find out the effect of natural convection of air within a wavy chamber using finite element methods and to investigate the influence of heated wall on free convection flow numerically.

VL  - 11
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Abdullah Ahmed Foisal

Department of Mathematics, University of Barishal, Barishal, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0007-4825-6821
Akimul Islam Saikat

Department of Mathematics, University of Barishal, Barishal, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0002-0761-2141
Azam Khan Muzahid

Department of Mathematics, University of Barishal, Barishal, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0003-4945-8776
Mainul Islam

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Trust University, Barishal, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0002-6337-0642

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APA Style

Foisal, A. A., Saikat, A. I., Muzahid, A. K., Islam, M. (2025). Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle. International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences, 11(4), 88-94. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13

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ACS Style

Foisal, A. A.; Saikat, A. I.; Muzahid, A. K.; Islam, M. Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle. Int. J. Fluid Mech. Therm. Sci. 2025, 11(4), 88-94. doi: 10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13

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AMA Style

Foisal AA, Saikat AI, Muzahid AK, Islam M. Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle. Int J Fluid Mech Therm Sci. 2025;11(4):88-94. doi: 10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13,
  author = {Abdullah Ahmed Foisal and Akimul Islam Saikat and Azam Khan Muzahid and Mainul Islam},
  title = {Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle
},
  journal = {International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences},
  volume = {11},
  number = {4},
  pages = {88-94},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijfmts.20251104.13},
  abstract = {This study numerically explores natural convection in a trapezoidal enclosure with a wavy upper boundary and a centrally placed circular cavity of varying radius. The left vertical wall is maintained at a low temperature, while the right wall is heated. The remaining boundaries are adiabatic. Three obstacle sizes are considered with radius 0.05, 0.08 and 0.03 representing different levels of geometric blockage. Simulations are carried out in COMSOL Multiphysics for Rayleigh numbers between 103 and 106 under the Boussinesq approximation. Flow circulation temperature contours and heat transfer performance are analyzed for each configuration. The results indicate that enlarging the circular cavity alters the strength and structure of buoyancy-driven vortices, influencing thermal stratification and the effective heat transfer rate across the cavity. At low Rayleigh numbers conduction dominates and influence of cavity size limited whereas at higher Rayleigh numbers natural convection becomes significant and the obstacle radius strongly affects vortex dynamics and Nusselt number distribution. The findings provide insight into the coupled effect of cavity geometry and buoyancy intensity offering guidance for the design of thermal system with internal obstacles and irregular enclosures. The main objective of this paper is to find out the effect of natural convection of air within a wavy chamber using finite element methods and to investigate the influence of heated wall on free convection flow numerically.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Computational Analysis of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Trapezoidal Cavity with Central Circular Obstacle

AU  - Abdullah Ahmed Foisal
AU  - Akimul Islam Saikat
AU  - Azam Khan Muzahid
AU  - Mainul Islam
Y1  - 2025/12/03
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13
T2  - International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences
JF  - International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences
JO  - International Journal of Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Sciences
SP  - 88
EP  - 94
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2469-8113
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijfmts.20251104.13
AB  - This study numerically explores natural convection in a trapezoidal enclosure with a wavy upper boundary and a centrally placed circular cavity of varying radius. The left vertical wall is maintained at a low temperature, while the right wall is heated. The remaining boundaries are adiabatic. Three obstacle sizes are considered with radius 0.05, 0.08 and 0.03 representing different levels of geometric blockage. Simulations are carried out in COMSOL Multiphysics for Rayleigh numbers between 103 and 106 under the Boussinesq approximation. Flow circulation temperature contours and heat transfer performance are analyzed for each configuration. The results indicate that enlarging the circular cavity alters the strength and structure of buoyancy-driven vortices, influencing thermal stratification and the effective heat transfer rate across the cavity. At low Rayleigh numbers conduction dominates and influence of cavity size limited whereas at higher Rayleigh numbers natural convection becomes significant and the obstacle radius strongly affects vortex dynamics and Nusselt number distribution. The findings provide insight into the coupled effect of cavity geometry and buoyancy intensity offering guidance for the design of thermal system with internal obstacles and irregular enclosures. The main objective of this paper is to find out the effect of natural convection of air within a wavy chamber using finite element methods and to investigate the influence of heated wall on free convection flow numerically.

VL  - 11
IS  - 4
ER  -

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