Heat transfer analysis for unsteady MHD flow past a non-isothermal stretching surface

An analysis is made for the unsteady two-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic flow of an incompressible viscous and electrically conducting fluid over a stretching surface having a variable and general form of surface temperature which removes the restrictions of the particular forms of prescribed surface temperature. Similarity solutions for the transformed governing equations are obtained. The transformed boundary layer equations are solved numerically for some values of the involved parameters, namely the unsteadiness parameter, magnetic parameter, the temperature exponent parameters. The features of the flow and heat transfer characteristics for different values of the governing parameters are analysed and discussed. It is found that the fluid velocity and temperature decrease for increasing unsteadiness parameter. Fluid velocity decreases with the increasing values of the Hartman number resulting an increase in the temperature field in steady as well in unsteady case. It is observed that the variation of the sheet temperature in respect of distance and time has analogous effects both on the free surface temperature and on the heat transfer rate (Nusselt number) at the sheet.

► Unsteady boundary layer flow and heat transfer over a non-isothermal stretching sheet in a magnetic field are studied.
► Fluid velocity and temperature decrease for increasing unsteadiness parameter.
► Fluid velocity decreases but temperature increases with the increasing values of the Hartman number.
► The sheet temperature in respect of distance and time has analogous effects on the heat transfer.