Numerical solutions of non-alignment stagnation-point flow and heat transfer over a stretching/shrinking surface in a nanofluid

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse numerically the steady stagnation-point flow of a viscous and incompressible fluid over continuously non-aligned stretching or shrinking surface in its own plane in a water-based nanofluid which contains three different types of nanoparticles, namely, Cu, Al2O3 and TiO2. Design/methodology/approach – Similarity transformation is used to convert the system of boundary layer equations which are in the form of partial differential equations into a system of ordinary differential equations. The system of similarity governing equations is then reduced to a system of first-order differential equations and solved numerically using the bvp4c function in Matlab software. Findings – Unique solution exists when the surface is stretched and dual solutions exist as the surface shrunk. For the dual solutions, stability analysis has revealed that the first solution (upper branch) is stable and physically realizable, while the second solution (lower branch) is unstable. The effect of non-alignment is huge for the shrinking surface which is in contrast with the stretching surface. Practical implications – The results obtained can be used to explain the characteristics and applications of nanofluids, which are widely used as coolants, lubricants, heat exchangers and micro-channel heat sinks. This problem also applies to some situations such as materials which are manufactured by extrusion, production of glass-fibre and shrinking balloon. In this kind of circumstance, the rate of cooling and the stretching/shrinking process play an important role in moulding the final product according to preferable features. Originality/value – The present results are original and new for the study of fluid flow and heat transfer over a stretching/shrinking surface for the problem considered by Wang (2008) in a viscous fluid and extends to nanofluid by using the Tiwari and Das (2007) model.