Unsteady Three-Dimensional MHD Non-Axisymmetric Homann Stagnation Point Flow of a Hybrid Nanofluid with Stability Analysis

Abstract

The hybrid nanofluid under the influence of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is a new interest in the industrial sector due to its applications, such as in solar water heating and scraped surface heat exchangers. Thus, the present study accentuates the analysis of an unsteady three-dimensional MHD non-axisymmetric Homann stagnation point flow of a hybrid Al2O3-Cu/H2O nanofluid with stability analysis. By employing suitable similarity transformations, the governing mathematical model in the form of the partial differential equations are simplified into a system of ordinary differential equations. The simplified mathematical model is then solved numerically by the Matlab solver bvp4c function. This solving approach was proficient in generating more than one solution when good initial guesses were provided. The numerical results presented significant influences on the rate of heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of a hybrid nanofluid. The rate of heat transfer and the trend of the skin friction coefficient improve with the increment of the nanoparticles’ concentration and the magnetic parameter; however, they deteriorate when the unsteadiness parameter increases. In contrast, the ratio of the escalation of the ambient fluid strain rate to the plate was able to adjourn the boundary layer separation. The dual solutions (first and second solutions) are obtainable when the surface of the sheet shrunk. A stability analysis is carried out to justify the stability of the dual solutions, and hence the first solution is seen as physically reliable and stable, while the second solution is unstable.