A note on the solution of general Falkner-Skan problem by two novel semi-analytical techniques

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to give a presentation of two new iterative methods for solving non-linear differential equations, they are successive linearisation method and spectral homotopy perturbation method. We applied these techniques on the non-linear boundary value problems of Falkner-Skan type. The methods used to find a recursive former for higher order equations that are solved using the Chebyshev spectral method to find solutions that are accurate and converge rapidly to the full numerical solution. The methods are illustrated by progressively applying the technique to the Blasius boundary layer equation, the Falkner-Skan equation and finally, the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Falkner-Skan equation. The solutions are compared to other methods in the literature such as the homotopy analysis method and the spectral-homotopy analysis method with focus on the accuracy and convergence of this new techniques.