Similarity Solutions of Unsteady Viscous Optically Thin Fluid Flow with Variable Properties and Thermal Radiation

Abstract

The study delves into the dynamics of unsteady viscous optically thin fluid flow, characterized by variable properties contingent upon temperature. Acknowledging the fluid’s laminar and incompressible nature, the investigation employs the Cogley et al. (1968) approximation for integrating thermal radiation effects. Through the use of suitable similarity variables, the complex partial differential equations governing the physical model are converted into a more manageable system of ordinary differential equations. Given the infeasibility of exact solutions for this transformed set, the homotopy analysis method (HAM) is utilized for approximation purposes. The study meticulously analyzes how various control parameters, including the thermal conductivity variation parameter and the Brinkman number, influence the fluid’s velocity and temperature profiles, presenting the findings through graphical representations. Notably, it is observed that both velocity and temperature distributions exhibit an increase in response to enhancements in the aforementioned parameters.