Magnetic feature and regression analysis of Reiner-Philippoff boundary layer flow

Abstract

The design and optimization of magnetic fluid-based processes, such as magnetohydrodynamic power generation and magnetic drug targeting, have become significant in recent times. To understand the magnetic and radiation features, as well as the sensitivity of engineering physical quantities to each dimensionless parameter in fluid flow, the Reiner-Philippoff (RP) fluid is best suited in this instance, as it exhibits shear-thickening, shear-thinning, and Newtonian behavior. The non-similar transformation is used to transform the partial differential equations that describe the flow into two-variable differential equations. The transformed dynamical equations are solved numerically using a spectral-based numerical technique; namely, the bivariate simple iteration method (BSIM). The effects of magnetic field strength and radiation parameter on the stretching and shrinking sheets are examined. The investigation reveals that both the magnetic field strength and radiation parameter have a significant impact on the flow behavior and rate of heat transfer. For the radiation parameter R∈[0,0.5], the skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number increase by 22.6% and 5.98%, respectively. Additionally, an 100% increment in Prandtl parameter reduces the Nusselt number by 287.36%. Regression analysis is performed to identify the most significant parameter affecting the engineering quantities. The results show that the Bingham constant, γ, is the only parameter that is not significant on the skin friction coefficient, while all the parameters have significant impact on the Nusselt number. The findings in this study have important implications in the biomedical industry, the design of machines, and the fourth industrial revolution.