Effects of thermal boundary conditions on Stokes' second problem

Abstract

In this investigation, an infinite flat plate is employed to examine the flow behavior of Casson fluid and the associated heat transfer phenomena. The plate undergoes an initial acceleration with a constant velocity until it eventually decelerates to rest. The energy equation incorporates the effects of viscous dissipation. An appropriate similarity transformation transforms the governing equations into coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). A closed-form solution for the velocity profile is obtained, while the energy equation is solved using the built-in function NDSOLVE in Mathematica. The study investigates the influence of governing parameters on dimensionless velocity, temperature, skin friction, and local heat transfer rate under two thermal boundary conditions: Newtonian heating and convective boundary conditions. The fluid's thermophysical properties remain constant throughout the study, with the surface temperature of the plate assumed to be fixed at a constant value. A graphical analysis examines the flow behavior and temperature distribution, revealing the impact of non-dimensional parameters. This study reveals that thermal boundary conditions significantly influence heat transfer rates, with Newtonian heating leading to an increase and convective heating causing a decrease. This is attributed to the direct application of heat at the boundary in Newtonian heating, which enhances thermal energy transfer. In contrast, convective heating disperses heat through fluid motion, limiting transfer rates.