Magnetohydrodynamics boundary layer flow of micropolar fluid over an exponentially shrinking sheet with thermal radiation: Triple solutions and stability analysis

• Published in: Mathematical methods in the applied sciences 2021-09, Vol.44 (13), p.10578-10608
• Main Authors: Yahaya, Rusya Iryanti, Md Arifin, Norihan, Mohamed Isa, Siti Suzilliana Putri, Rashidi, Mohammad Mehdi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boundary conditions; Boundary layer flow; Coefficient of friction; Computational fluid dynamics; Flow stability; Fluid flow; Magnetohydrodynamics; micropolar fluid; Micropolar fluids; multiple solutions; Ordinary differential equations; Parameters; Partial differential equations; Radiation; Skin friction; Stability analysis; Thermal radiation
• ISSN: 0170-4214; 1099-1476
• DOI: 10.1002/mma.7432

The flow of electrically conducting micropolar fluid past an exponentially permeable shrinking sheet in the presence of a magnetic field and thermal radiation is studied. Similarity transformations are applied to the governing partial differential equations to form ordinary differential equations. The solution for the resultant equations, subject to boundary conditions, is then computed numerically using the bvp4c solver in MATLAB. The effects of several parameters on the local skin friction coefficient, couple stress, Nusselt number, velocity, microrotation and temperature of the fluid are analysed. Because the numerical computations for this problem result in triple solutions, stability analysis is carried out to ascertain the stability and significance of these solutions. The first solution is revealed to be stable, hence more physically meaningful than the other solutions. Meanwhile, it is found that the increase in magnetic and thermal radiation parameters reduces the fluid temperature.