A comparative analysis on MHD fluid flow over a thickness varying surface using Buongiorno model

Abstract

Nanofluids have extensive applications across engineering and industrial domains, including heat exchangers, microelectronics, chillers, and pharmaceutical processes. Utilizing these advanced features, this study is opted to analyze the properties of non-Newtonian Casson nanofluids over a thin surface, considering the effects of thermophoresis, Brownian motion, and heat source/sink. The governing equations are transformed using similarity transformations and solved numerically via the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method. The influence of the governing parameters on velocity, temperature, concentration, skin friction coefficient, local Nusselt number, and local Sherwood number is examined and addressed. The primary outcomes demonstrate that increasing the magnetic field reduces fluid velocity due to Lorentz forces. Meanwhile parameters such as wall thickness and velocity power index enhance velocity and temperature profiles. Brownian motion and thermophoresis elevate temperature and concentration near the boundary. Also, higher heat source/sink values significantly boost temperature profiles. These results have direct and practical implications for optimizing heat transfer and flow behavior in non-Newtonian fluids. Current study has immediate applications in biomedical engineering, chemical processing, and microscale fluid systems. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.