Heat transfer in thermal boundary layer flow over a stretching plate with radiation effect

Abstract

A steady laminar boundary layer flow over a stretching plate in an incompressible viscous fluid is considered. The stretching velocity is assumed to vary linearly with the distance along the surface. The governing partial differential equations are reduced to ordinary ones using a similarity transformation. These equations are then solved numerically using Maple Software which based on the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method. Besides, the solution for the thermal field is also given in terms of Kummer's function. The effects of the radiation parameter and the Prandtl number on the heat transfer characteristics are obtained and discussed. It is found that the heat transfer rate at the surface decreases as the radiation parameter increases, but it increases with the Prandtl number.