On numerical and approximate solutions for stagnation point flow involving third order fluid

Abstract

This article addresses the two-dimensional boundary layer flow of third order fluid in the region of a stagnation point over a surface lubricated with a power law fluid. The lubricant is assumed to have a thin layer of variable thickness over the surface. The third order fluid experiences a partial slip due to this lubrication layer. Mathematical model of the flow problem is represented through a system of nonlinear partial differential equations with nonlinear boundary conditions. The non-similar numerical and analytic solutions of the transformed ordinary differential equation are obtained using hybrid homotopy analysis method based on the combination of homotopy analysis and shooting methods. It is observed that extra drag force is required in order to achieve no-slip regime from full slip and thus slip has suppressed the effects of free stream velocity. The results varying from no-slip to full slip case are discussed under the influence of pertinent parameters.