Lie Symmetry Analysis of Boundary Layer Stagnation-Point Flow and Heat Transfer of Non-Newtonian Power-Law Fluids Over a Nonlinearly Shrinking/Stretching Sheet with Thermal Radiation

Abstract

Abstract A symmetry analysis of steady two-dimensional boundary layer stagnation-point flow and heat transfer of viscous incompressible non-Newtonian power-law fluids over a nonlinearly shrinking/stretching sheet with thermal radiation effect is presented. Lie group of continuous symmetry transformations is employed to the boundary layer flow and heat transfer equations, that gives scaling laws and self-similar equations for a special type of shrinking/stretching velocity ( c x 1 / 3 $c{x^{1/3}}$ ) and free-stream straining velocity ( a x 1 / 3 $a{x^{1/3}}$ ) along the axial direction to the sheet. The self-similar equations are solved numerically using very efficient shooting method. For the above nonlinear velocities, the unique self-similar solution is obtained for straining velocity being always less than the shrinking/stretching velocity for Newtonian and non-Newtonian power-law fluids. The thickness of velocity boundary layer becomes thinner with power-law index for shrinking as well as stretching sheet cases. Also, the thermal boundary layer thickness decreases with increasing values the Prandtl number and the radiation parameter.