Double stratified radiative flow of an Oldroyd-B nanofluid with nonlinear convection

Abstract

The nonlinear convective flow of an Oldroyd-B fluid due to a nonlinear stretching sheet with varying thickness is examined. The salient features of the random movement and thermophoresis are described. Formulation is made with the nonlinear thermal radiation and heat generation/absorption. Further, the convective conditions and double stratification are taken into account. The resulting flow problems are tackled by the optimal homotopy analysis method (OHAM). The resulting nonlinear problems are solved for the velocity, temperature, and concentration fields. The temperature and concentration gradients are numerically discussed. The total residual error is calculated. The Nusselt number is an increasing function of the radiation parameter. The Sherwood number increases with the increase in the solutal stratification or the Schmidt number. The main outcomes are presented in conclusions. This study has a wide range of applications such as thermal stratification of oceans, reservoirs, and rivers, density stratification of atmosphere, hydraulic lifts, and polymer processing.