Flow of a micropolar CNT-based nanofluid across a squeezing channel

Abstract

This study investigates the flow of viscous micropolar nanofluids. Single-walled carbon nanotubes are taken as the solid constituent. Dynamic viscosity is temperature dependent. The flow take place across two parallel squeezing plates with an unsteady magnetic field normal to the surface of the plates. The effects of thermal radiation are also determined. The problem is modeled with the help of micropolar fluid theory. The governing equations are nonlinear coupled partial differential equations, which are non-dimensionalized and then transform to ordinary differential equations by suitable similarity transformations. These highly nonlinear coupled ordinary differential equations are then solved with an implicit finite difference scheme called the Keller box method. This method has second order accuracy and is unconditionally stable. Graphical results are plotted for quantities of physical interest such as velocity, temperature, Nusselt number, and skin friction. The study is focused on the flow behavior of fluid keeping dynamic viscosity sensitive to temperature. It has been concluded that the skin friction coefficient and angular velocity profile rises while the linear velocity of the fluid body decreases with the magnitude of the variable viscosity parameter.