Numerical analysis of the MHD Williamson nanofluid flow over a nonlinear stretching sheet through a Darcy porous medium: Modeling and simulation

Abstract

Abstract In the current study, we delve into examining the movement of a nanofluid within a Williamson boundary layer, focusing on the analysis of heat and mass transfer (HMT) processes. This particular flow occurs over a sheet that undergoes nonlinear stretching. A significant facet of this investigation involves the incorporation of both the magnetic field and the influence of viscous dissipation within the model. The sheet is situated within a porous medium, and this medium conforms to the Darcy model. Since more precise outcomes are still required, the model assumes that both fluid conductivity and viscosity change with temperature. In this research, we encounter a system of extremely nonlinear ordinary differential equations that are treated through a numerical technique, specifically by employing the spectral collocation method. Graphical representations are used to illustrate how the relevant parameters impact the nanoparticle volume fraction, velocity, and temperature profiles. The study involves the computation and analysis of the effect of physical parameters on the local Sherwood number, skin friction coefficient, and local Nusselt number. Specific significant findings emerging from the present study highlight that the rate of mass transfer is particularly influenced by the thermophoresis factor, porous parameter, and Williamson parameter, showing heightened effects, while conversely, the Brownian motion parameter demonstrates an opposing pattern. The results were computed and subjected to a comparison with earlier research, indicating a notable degree of conformity and accord.