An analytical study on the influence of magnetic field-dependent viscosity on viscous and ohmic dissipative second-grade fluid boundary layers

Abstract

Abstract This article aims to investigate the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) boundary layer flow of a second-grade non-Newtonian fluid over a horizontally stretching sheet, considering magnetic field-dependent (MFD) viscosity, as well as viscous and Ohmic dissipations. Analytical solutions for previously unexplored momentum and heat transfer equations involving MFD viscosity are derived. Two boundary conditions, namely Prescribed Surface Temperature (PST) and Prescribed Heat Flux (PHF), are taken into account. Governing dimensional partial differential equations (PDEs) are transformed into non-dimensional ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using similarity transformations. Closed-form analytical solutions for flow are derived, considering stretching velocity, MFD viscosity, second-grade fluid properties, and suction impacts. Heat transfer equations are transformed into Gauss-hypergeometric form, yielding solutions in terms of confluent hypergeometric functions. Analytical expressions for skin friction, local Nusselt number, and non-dimensional wall temperature are derived. A unique solution is obtained for the flow equation. It is found that both second-grade and magnetic viscosity parameters expand the momentum boundary layer while the magnetic parameter reduces thickness. Thermal boundary layer thickness increases with a higher second-grade parameter, magnetic viscosity, and Eckert number. Moreover, analytical solutions are validated against published results for a special case.