Thermal radiation effect on boundary layer over a flat plate having convective surface boundary condition

Abstract

This paper presents the effect of thermal radiation on the boundary layer over a flat plate. The convective boundary condition is applied at the surface of the flat plate. The solution to the coupled non-linear transport equations is obtained using the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg fourth-fifth order (RKF45) method. The impact of thermal radiation on mercury, air, sulphur oxide and water whose Prandtl numbers ( $$\Pr$$ ) are 0.044, 0.72, 2, and 7 respectively are depicted using line graphs and tables. The impact of Prandtl number ( $$\Pr$$ ), local convective heat transfer (a) and temperature difference ( $$C_{T}$$ ) on temperature distribution are also presented. The results indicated that the boundary layer thickness decreases with $$\Pr$$ augment but increases with increasing values $$R$$ . Furthermore, R augment is inversely proportional to the temperature gradient near the plate while an opposite trend is observed away from the plate. The results also indicated that $$R$$ augment reduces heat transfer but an opposite trend is observed with $$\Pr$$ augment. $$\Pr$$ augment has a decreasing effect on boundary layer thickness and a augment has an increasing effect on temperature.