Finite element solution of mixed convection flow of a nanofluid over a vertical stretching sheet with power law containing metal oxide nanoparticles (Q258000)

Summary: Steady, two dimensional, mixed convection laminar boundary layer flow of an incompressible nanofluid over a semi-infinite vertical power law stretching sheet has been investigated numerically. The velocity and temperature of the sheet are assumed to vary in a power-law form. The resulting nonlinear governing equations (obtained with the Boussinesq approximation) have been solved, using a robust, extensively validated, Galerkin finite element method (FEM) for spherical shaped nanoparticles with volume fraction up to 4\%, with associated boundary conditions. Different water-based nanofluids containing metal oxide nanoparticles, i.e., CuO, Al\(_2\)O\(_3\) and TiO\(_2\) are taken into consideration. Nanofluids effectively enhance the heat transfer and reduce the skin friction as compared to pure water in the present problem. The effects of the various other parameters are discussed to achieve better control on the rate of heat transfer.