IMPACT OF NONLINEAR THERMAL RADIATION ON MHD STAGNATION-POINT FLOW OF CARREAU NANOFLUID OVER A STRETCHING PLATE WITH HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Abstract

This study examines the impact of nonlinear thermal radiation on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stagnation-point flow of a Carreau nanofluid over a stretching plate, incorporating homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions. Unlike previous studies that primarily focused on the Carreau model, this research also acknowledges the limitations of this model by briefly comparing it with Casson and power-law models to provide a broader perspective on non-Newtonian fluid behaviors. The physically modeled expressions are reframed into the ordinary differential system. This restructured model is computed numerically by the Galerkin weighted residual method (GWRM) to obtain numerical results and computed results are visualized graphically. While numerical accuracy is demonstrated through comparisons with existing studies, the lack of experimental validation is acknowledged as a limitation. Furthermore, the study considers external factors such as temperature fluctuations and varying pressure conditions that may influence the results in real-world applications. The findings, particularly on buoyancy effects and suction/injection parameters, have direct industrial relevance in glass-fiber production, sugar solution processing, and cooling systems. The study also provides a detailed discussion on the complexity of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions, particularly their kinetic behaviors, to enhance the applicability of the findings in engineering and industrial contexts.