Aiding or opposing electro-osmotic flow of Carreau–Yasuda nanofluid induced by peristaltic waves using Buongiorno model

Abstract

Peristaltic flow in a symmetric channel containing Carreau–Yasuda (CY) nanofluid is studied through a Buongiorno model. The flow field is being assisted or opposed by electro-kinetic body force. Lubrication approximation along with Debye–Huckel linearization assumption is executed to simplify the governing model. Computational results are executed through a shooting method for values of parameters. The solutions contain a parameter measuring the relative strength of electro-osmotic force. In this study, values of are considered in the range . However, power-law index and Weissenberg number , appearing in the CY-model, are varied within and , respectively. Furthermore, Brinkman number is kept in the interval with Prandtl number assumed fixed at . A marked increase in the heat transfer coefficient is detected provided that is sufficiently large. No noticeable change in temperature profile is detected when Brownian motion and thermophoresis parameters are varied. For physically realistic results, these parameters are assumed to be of the order , as suggested in a recent study. A marked variation in the concentration field occurs whenever the ratio of Brownian to thermophoretic diffusion changes. Streamlines are also computed for a variety of parameter values, which reveal that the size of trapped boluses shrinks as we increase the strength of electro-osmotic force.