Biomagnetic viscoelastic fluid flow over a stretching sheet

Of concern in this paper is an investigation of biomagnetic flow of a non-Newtonian viscoelastic fluid over a stretching sheet under the influence of an applied magnetic field generated owing to the presence of a magnetic dipole. The viscoelasticity of the fluid is characterised by Walter's B fluid model. The applied magnetic field has been considered to be sufficiently strong to saturate the ferrofluid. The magnetization of the fluid is considered to vary linearly with temperature as well as the magnetic field intensity. The theoretical treatment of the physical problem consists of reducing it to solving a system of non-linear coupled differential equations that involve six parameters, which are solved by developing a finite difference technique. The velocity profile, the skin-friction, the wall pressure and the rate of heat transfer at the sheet are computed for a specific situation. The study shows that the fluid velocity increases as the rate of heat transfer decreases, while the local skin-friction and the wall pressure increase as the magnetic field strength is increased. It is also revealed that fluid viscoelasticity has an enhancing effect on the local skin-friction. The study will have an important bearing on magnetic drug targeting and separation of red cells as well as on the control of blood flow during surgery.