Dual solutions of an unsteady flow, heat and mass transfer of an electrically conducting fluid over a shrinking sheet in the presence of radiation and viscous dissipation

• Published in: International journal of mechanical sciences 2017-09, Vol.130, p.119-132
• Main Authors: Vajravelu, K., Sarojamma, G., Sreelakshmi, K., Kalyani, Ch
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dual solutions; Homotopy analysis method; Shrinking sheet; Viscous dissipation
• ISSN: 0020-7403; 1879-2162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2017.05.040

•Analytical solutions for the boundary layer flow of a viscous incompressible fluid generated by a shrinking sheet under the influence of a transverse magnetic field in the presence of viscous dissipation and thermal radiation are obtained using Homotopy analysis method.•Dual solutions are found to exist and the associated critical values of the flow parameters for which dual solutions exist are calculated.•Surface drag coefficient of the stable solution is enhanced for increasing values of magnetic parameter and suction parameter.•Thermal radiation parameter and Eckert number enhance rate of heat transfer in the case of stable solution.•Mass transfer rate of the stable solution is noticed to be a decreasing function of Schmidt number and chemical reaction parameter. In this study we analyze the effects of thermal radiation and surface mass transfer on the flow generated by a shrinking sheet. Homotopy analysis method (HAM) is employed to obtain analytical solutions for the flow, temperature and mass concentration fields. The plots for the velocity, temperature and concentration fields are presented and their behavior is discussed for several sets of values of the governing parameters. Dual solutions are observed to exist for the shrinking sheet problem. Surface drag coefficient of the stable solution is enhanced for increasing values of the magnetic parameter and suction parameter. Also, thermal radiation parameter and Eckert number increase the rate of heat transfer in the case of stable solution. However, mass transfer rate of the stable solution is noticed to be a decreasing function of Schmidt number and chemical reaction parameter. We expect that the results obtained will not only provide useful information for industrial applications but also complement the existing literature. Flow past a shrinking sheet gives dual solutions. [Display omitted]