MHD flow of a variable viscosity nanofluid over a radially stretching convective surface with radiative heat

• Published in: Journal of molecular liquids 2016-07, Vol.219, p.624-630
• Main Authors: Makinde, O.D., Mabood, F., Khan, W.A., Tshehla, M.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brownian motion; Convective heating; MHD nanofluid; Radially stretching sheet; Thermal radiation; Thermophoresis
• ISSN: 0167-7322; 1873-3166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2016.03.078

This study investigates the combined effects of thermal radiation, thermophoresis, Brownian motion, magnetic field and variable viscosity on boundary layer flow, heat and mass transfer of an electrically conducting nanofluid over a radially stretching convectively heated surface. The stretching velocity is assumed to vary linearly with the radial distance. Using similarity transformation, the governing nonlinear partial differential equations are reduced to a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations which are solved numerically by employing shooting method coupled with Runge-Kutta Fehlberg integration technique. Graphical results showing the effects of various pertinent parameters on the dimensionless velocity, temperature, nanoparticle concentration, local skin friction, local Nusselt and local Sherwood numbers are presented and discussed quantitatively. Comparisons with the earlier results have been made and good agreements are found. The present results reveal that the heat transfer rate is reduced with viscosity and nanofluid parameters whereas the mass transfer rates is enhanced with Brownian motion parameter and Lewis number. •MHD nanofluid flow with radiation past a radially stretching surface is examined.•The nonlinear model is solved using similarity transformation and shooting method.•Pertinent results are displayed graphically and discussed quantitatively.•Skin friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number are determined.