Radiative heat transfer study for flow of non-Newtonian nanofluid past a Riga plate with variable thickness

• Published in: Journal of molecular liquids Vol. 248; pp. 143 - 152
• Main Authors: Kumar, Rakesh, Sood, Shilpa, Shehzad, Sabir Ali, Sheikholeslami, Mohsen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2017
• Subjects: Chemical reaction; Stretchable Riga plate; Thermal radiation; Variable thickness; Williamson nanofluid; Variable thickness; Thermal radiation; Chemical reaction; Stretchable Riga plate; Williamson nanofluid
• ISSN: 0167-7322; 1873-3166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2017.10.018

In this work, effects of nonlinear thermal radiation and first order chemical reaction on the boundary layer flow of Williamson nanofluid over a non-uniformly thicked stretchable Riga plate are examined. The analysis is subjected to the newly devised zero nanoparticles mass flux surface conditions and heat transfer due to convective boundary conditions. Governing boundary layer equations depicting mechanical properties of the considered plate and flow over it are made dimensionless using suitable transformations. Numerical results obtained through an implicit finite difference scheme (Keller-box method) reveal that flow inside the boundary layer is substantially influenced by radiation, chemical reaction, and a surface parallel Lorentz force. •Williamson nanofluid flow over a horizontal Riga plate of variable thickness is formulated.•Non-linear thermal radiation and first order chemical reactions have been considered.•Convective surface temperature condition is utilized.•Newly developed zero mass flux condition at Riga plate is incorporated.•Numerical solution is obtained by employing an implicit finite difference scheme known as Keller box method.