Transient flow and heat transfer characteristics of single-phase nanofluid past a stretching sheet under the influence of thermal radiation and heat source

Abstract

This work aims to investigate the unsteady hydromagnetic free convective flow of a viscous, electrically incompressible fluid influenced by an inclined magnetic field, radiation, and heat source. Specifically, it explores the behavior of water-based nanofluids under these conditions. The Newton-Raphson shooting technique combines the 4th-order Runge-Kutta approach to obtain dimensionless and accurate solutions to the governing equations. The study assesses flow characteristics and heat transfer properties over various parameter values. The outcomes are visualized through graphical representations of velocity, temperature, skin friction coefficient, and the local Nusselt number. The present study examines the impact of copper (Cu), silver (Ag), alumina (Al2O3), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles in water as the base fluid on the percentage increase in skin friction and Nusselt number under various physical conditions. Suction increases skin friction by 10–15 % and the Nusselt number by a similar margin, whereas injection can reduce these metrics. Radiation enhances heat transfer, resulting in a 5–10 % increase in skin friction and a 10–15 % rise in the Nusselt number, with nanoparticles like Ag showing the most substantial effects due to their superior thermal properties.