Dual similarity solutions because of mixed convective flow of a double-nanoparticles hybrid nanofluid: critical points and stability analysis

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this article is to study the steady laminar magnetohydrodynamics mixed convection stagnation-point flow of an alumina-graphene/water hybrid nanofluid with spherical nanoparticles over a vertical permeable plate with focus on dual similarity solutions. Design/methodology/approach The single-phase hybrid nanofluid modeling is based on nanoparticles and base fluid masses instead of volume fraction of first and second nanoparticles as inputs. After substituting pertinent similarity variables into the basic partial differential equations governing on the problem, the authors obtain a complicated system of nondimensional ordinary differential equations, which has non-unique solution in a certain range of the buoyancy parameter. It is worth mentioning that, the stability analysis of the solutions is also presented and it is shown that always the first solutions are stable and physically realizable. Findings It is proved that the magnetic parameter and the wall permeability parameter widen the range of the buoyancy parameter for which the solution exists; however, the opposite trend is valid for second nanoparticle mass. Besides, mass suction at the surface of the plate as well as magnetic parameter leads to reduce both hydrodynamic and thermal boundary layer thicknesses. Moreover, the assisting flow regime always has higher values of similarity skin friction and Nusselt number relative to opposing flow regime. Originality/value A novel mass-based model of the hybridity in nanofluids has been used to study the foregoing problem with focus on dual similarity solutions. The results of this paper are completely original and, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the numerical results of the present paper were never published by any researcher.