ISSN 1810-2328, Journal of Engineering Thermophysics, 2013, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 337–345.


c Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2013.

Heat Transfer Analysis for Stretching Flow over a Curved Surface

with Magnetic Field
Z. Abbas1* , M. Naveed2 , and M. Sajid3, 4
1
Department of Mathematics, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100 Pakistan
2
Department of Mathematics, Riphah International University, Islamabad, 44000 Pakistan
3
The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, Trieste, 34014 Italy
4
Theoretical Plasma Physics Division, PINSTECH, P.O. Nilore, Islamabad, 44000 Pakistan
Received September 30, 2011

Abstract—The analysis of a viscous fluid flow and heat transfer is carried out under the influence
of a constant applied magnetic field over a curved stretching sheet. Heat transfer analysis is carried
out for two heating processes, namely, prescribed surface temperature (PST) and prescribed heat
flux (PHF). The equations governing the flow are modeled in a curvilinear coordinate system
(r, s, z). The nonlinear partial differential equations are then transformed to nonlinear ordinary
differential equations by using similarity transformations. The obtained system of equations is solved
numerically by a shooting method using Runge–Kutta algorithm. The interest lies in determining
the influence of dimensionless radius of curvature on the velocity, temperature, skin friction, and rate
of heat transfer at the wall prescribed by the Nusselt number. The effects of Hartmann number are
also presented for the fluid properties of interest.

DOI: 10.1134/S1810232813040061

1. INTRODUCTION
Flow and heat transfer analysis over a stretching sheet is vital in many technological applications,
particularly, in production of polymer films or thin films. The simultaneous operations of stretching and
heating or cooling during the production process have significant effect on the final product. These effects
depend up the skin friction or fractional drag on the surface and rate of heat transfer on the surface. The
first study regarding the flow and heat transfer over a stretching sheet was carried out by Tsou et al.
[1]. This study is further extended to discuss the effects of suction and blowing on a porous plate by
P.S. Gupta and A.S. Gupta [2]. Soundalgekar and Murty [3] analyzed the effects of variable temperature
for the same problem. The flow, heat and mass transfer over a stretching sheet in the presence of a
magnetic field was discussed by Chakrabarti and A.S. Gupta [4]. Vajravelu and Hadjinicolaou [5] studied
the convective heat transfer in an electrically conducting fluid on a stretching sheet having a uniform
free stream. Heat transfer analysis in a rotating fluid over a stretching sheet is examined by Takhar et
al. [6]. They also incorporated the effects of a constant magnetic field under the low magnetic Reynolds
number assumption. The aspects of internal heat generation and absorption in a viscous fluid through
a porous medium past a porous stretching sheet were analyzed by Cortell [7]. Sajid et al. [8] extended
the same problem for an unsteady axisymmetric flow and computed series solution for all the values of
dimensionless time. The problem of prescribed skin friction and heat flux over an exponential stretching
sheet was discussed by Magyari and Keller [9].
In all the above-cited studies the Crane’s problem [10] was extended for studying the heat transfer
characteristics on a plane sheet. Most recently, Sajid et al. [11] extended the work of [10] for a
curved stretching sheet. In that paper they have analyzed the effects of curvature and found that its
presence inside the boundary layer is no more negligible as in the case of a flat stretching sheet.
Motivated from this fact, our aim here is to extend the analysis of [11] in two directions. One, by
*
E-mail: za_qau@yahoo.com

337
338 ABBAS et al.

considering a magnetohydrodynamics flow under the application of a constant applied magnetic field,
and the other by analyzing the heat transfer characteristic for two heating processes, namely, prescribed
surface temperature (PST) and prescribed heat flux (PHF). The resulting nonlinear ordinary differential
equations are solved numerically using shooting method with Runge–Kutta algorithm. The influences
of the physical parameters of interest are discussed through graphs and tables.

2. BASIC EQUATIONS
For mathematical modeling we have used the curvilinear coordinates (r, s, z), where s is the arc
length coordinate along the flow direction and r is normal to tangent vector at any point on the sheet.
Consider the steady two-dimensional boundary layer flow of an incompressible viscous fluid over a
curved stretching sheet coiled in a circle of radius R. A constant magnetic field, B0 , is applied in the r-
direction. Assuming that our magnetic Reynolds number is low and, thus, we have neglected the effects
of induced magnetic field. Also the applied electric field is assumed to be zero. Under the boundary layer
approximations discussed in detail in [11], the equations for hydromagnetic flow and heat transfer are
given as
∂ ∂u
{(r + R)v} + R = 0, (1)
∂r ∂s

u2 1 ∂p
= , (2)
r+R ρ ∂r
 
∂u Ru ∂u uv 1 R ∂p ∂2u 1 ∂u u σB02
v + + = +ν + − − u, (3)
∂r r + R ∂s r + R ρ r + R ∂s ∂r 2 r + R ∂r (r + R)2 ρ
     2
∂T uR ∂T ∂2T 1 ∂T ∂u u
ρcp r + =k + +μ − , (4)
∂r r + R ∂s ∂r 2 r + R ∂r ∂r r+R
where v and u are the velocity components in r- and s-directions, respectively, ρ the fluid density, p the
pressure, ν the kinematics viscosity of fluid, σ the electrical conductivity of the fluid, cp the specific heat
at constant pressure, T the temperature, k the thermal conductivity, and μ the dynamic viscosity.
The appropriate boundary conditions for the problem under consideration are given by

u = as, v = 0, at r = 0,
∂u (5)
u → 0, → 0, as r → ∞,
∂r
where a is the stretching constant and has the dimension (time) −1 .
For the two heating processes we, respectively, have
Case a: Prescribed surface temperature (PST)
T = Tw at r = 0, T → T∞ as r → ∞, (6)
Case b: Prescribed heat flux (PHF)
∂T  s 2
−k =D at r = 0, T → T∞ as r → ∞, (7)
∂r l
where D is any constant, Tw is the temperature at the surface, and T∞ is the constant temperature
outside the thermal boundary layer with Tw > T∞ . Defining the similarity transformations

 −R √ a
u = axf (η) , v= aνf (η) , η= r, p = ρa2 s2 P (η),
r+R ν

T − T∞ D  s 2 ν
PST: θ(η) = , PHF: T − T∞ = g(η). (8)
Tw − T∞ k l a

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 HEAT TRANSFER ANALYSIS FOR STRETCHING FLOW 339

Using Eq. (8), Eq. (1) is identically satisfied and Eqs. (2)–(4) yield
∂P f 2
= , (9)
∂η η+K

2K f  f K K K
P = f  + − 2 − f 2 + f f  + f f  − M 2f , (10)
η+K η+K (η + K) η+K η+K (η + K)2

where K = R a/v is the dimensionless radius of curvature. Eliminating the pressure from Eqs. (9) and
(10) we have
2f  f  f K
  
f iv + − 2 + 3 − f f − f f 
η+K (η + K) (η + K) η+K
(11)
K
2 
 K  2  2 f

− f − f f − f f − M f − M = 0,
(η + K)2 (η + K)3 η+K

 2
 θ K   f
θ + + Pr f θ + Pr Ec f − = 0, (12)
η+K η+K η+K

and the boundary conditions (5)–(7) give

f (0) = 0, f  (0) = 1, θ(0) = 1,

(13)
f  (∞) = 0, f  (∞) = 0, θ(∞) = 0.

Here, M 2 = σB02 /ρa is the dimensionless magnetic parameter, Pr = μcp /k is the Prandtl number, and
Ec = a2 l2 /Acp is the Eckert number where A is any constant. The thermal boundary layer equation
remains exactly the same as before, i.e., with g replacing θ in Eq. (12). The corresponding boundary
conditions are different in the PHF case, which are given by
g (0) = −1, g (∞) = 0. (14)

The physical quantities of interest are the skin friction coefficient and the local Nusselt number along the
s-directions, which are defined as
τrs sqw
Cf = 2 , Nus = , (15)
ρuw k (Tw − T∞ )

where τrs is the wall shear stress and qw is the heat flux at the wall along the s-directions, which are
given by
  
∂u u  ∂T 
τrs = μ −  , qw = −k . (16)
∂r (r + R) r=0 ∂r r=0

Using Eq. (8), Eq. (15) becomes

f  (0) 1
Res Cf = f  (0) − = f  (0) − ,
1/2
K K (17)
= −θ  (0) ,
1/2
Res Nus

where Res = as2 /ν is the local Reynolds number.

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340 ABBAS et al.

3. RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS

The nonlinear Eqs. (11) and (12) subject to the boundary conditions (13) and (14) have been solved
numerically by a shooting method with Runge–Kutta algorithm [12] using software MATHEMATICA.
The quantities of interest are the velocity components in r- and s-directions, temperature distribution
for both prescribed temperature and prescribed heat flux cases, skin friction coefficient, rate of heat
transfer at the wall in the case of prescribed temperature case and temperature at the wall in case of
prescribed heat flux. To see the influence of different physical parameters, namely, the dimensionless
radius of curvature K, the magnetic parameter M , Prandtl number Pr, and Eckert number Ec on these
physical quantities of interest, Figs. 1–6 and Tables 1–3 are given. Since the results for the influence of
dimensionless radius of curvature K on the velocity are discussed in detail in [11], therefore, we are not
presenting these here to avoid repetition.
Figures 1a and 1b, respectively, give the variations in the velocity profiles f  and f for various values
of a magnetic parameter M by keeping K = 10 fixed. Both velocity profiles f and f  decrease with an
increase in the magnetic parameter M . This is due to the fact that the effect of magnetic force on an
electrically conducting fluid is to suppress the bulk motion and, as a result, the velocity decreases. We
also note that the boundary layer thickness is decreased as M increases. It is also a well-established
phenomenon in magnetohydrodynamics that it alters the boundary layers and an applied magnetic field
can be used to control the boundary layer thickness and, therefore, our theoretical predictions agree well
with the experimental observations for such kind of MHD flows. Figure 2a depicts the variations in the
pressure P (η) for different values of parameter K. It is found that an increase in the dimensionless radius
of curvature causes a decrease in the magnitude of the pressure inside the boundary layer. Moreover, the
pressure goes to zero far away from the boundary, and the magnitude of the pressure approaches zero
by taking K → ∞ (the case in which the curved stretching surface goes to flat stretching surface).
The change in the pressure P (η) for various values of a magnetic parameter M is shown in Fig. 2b.
It is noted that initially, the magnitude of the pressure decreases by increasing the value of M , but
after (η = 1) it has the reverse behavior as M increases. This fact is also observed in the case of K
in Fig. 2a. The explanation of this behavior is due to the fact that pressure behaves differently inside and
outside the boundary layer. For a straight sheet we observe no pressure variation inside or outside the
boundary layer, but as we have introduced the curvature into the sheet the pressure is no more constant
throughout the flow and has variations especially inside the boundary layer. Figure 3 gives the variations
in the temperature distributions θ (η) and g (η) for different values of dimensionless radius of curvature
K for fixed values of M , Pr, and Ec. Both temperatures θ and g are decreasing functions of K. It is
also noted from this figure that as the dimensionless radius of curvature K increases, the transfer of
the temperature from the sheet to the fluid is slower as compared to the curved stretching sheet. The
thermal boundary layer thickness also decreases by increasing the values of K. Figure 4 elucidates the
effects of the magnetic parameter M on the temperature profiles θ and g. The temperature θ in the case of
PST is an increasing function of the magnetic parameter M . Furthermore, the thermal boundary layer
thickness also increases for large values of M in this case (PST). Moreover, we can say from Fig. 4b
that the magnitude of the temperature g in the case of PHF is also increased by increasing the values

Fig. 1. Velocity profiles f  (η) and f (η) for different values of a magnetic parameter M when K = 10.

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 HEAT TRANSFER ANALYSIS FOR STRETCHING FLOW 341

Fig. 2. Pressure profiles P (η) (a) for different values of dimensionless curvature K when M = 0.2; (b) for different
values of magnetic parameter M when K = 10.

Fig. 3. Temperature profiles θ(η) and g(η) for different values of dimensionless radius of curvature K when M = 0.5,
Pr = 1.5, and Ec = 0.5.

Fig. 4. Temperature profiles θ(η) and g(η) for different values of magnetic parameter M when K = 10, Pr = 1.5, and
Ec = 0.5.

of M . It is also found that the rate of heat transfer at the surface in this case decreases for large values
of M . Figure 5 shows the influence of the Prandtl number Pr on the temperature distributions θ and g.
It is observed that both temperatures θ and g are decreased by increasing the value of Pr. The thermal
boundary layer thickness also decreases for large values of Pr. The change in the temperature profiles
θ and g for different values of the Eckert number Ec is given in Fig. 6. The temperatures θ and g are
increased by increasing the value of Ec in both cases of PST and PHF. It is also noted from Fig. 6a

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342 ABBAS et al.

Fig. 5. Temperature profiles θ(η) and g(η) for different values of Prandtl number Pr when K = 10, M = 0.5, and
Ec = 0.5.

Fig. 6. Temperature profiles θ(η) and g(η) for different values of Eckert number Ec when K = 10, M = 0.5, and
Pr = 1.5.

that in the case of PST, the temperature field θ is slightly larger at the surface by increasing Ec. This
may be due to the fact that the temperature at the surface is higher (Tw > T∞ ) as compared to the fluid
temperature.
1/2
Table 1 is made to see the numerical values of the skin friction coefficient −Res Cf for different
values of the dimensionless radius of curvature K in the absence of magnetic field (M = 0). It can bee
seen from this table that the skin friction coefficient decreases as the dimensionless radius of curvature
K is increased. It is also noted that as the curved stretching sheet changes to the flat stretching sheet
1/2
by taking K → ∞, the skin friction coefficient Res Cf = −1, which is valid in the case of the flat
stretching sheet (see [13]). It is also pointed out here that Eq. (24) of the paper by Sajid et al. [11]
must have a negative sign with second term instead of positive one and, hence, the values of the skin
1/2
friction coefficient −Res Cf given in Table 1 [11] are not correct. Therefore, the conclusion drawn in
[11] that more drags force is required for a flat sheet is not correct. In fact, a grater drag force is required
in the case of curved stretching sheet. Table 2 shows the numerical values of the skin friction coefficient
−Res Cf and the rate of the heat transfer −θ  (0) and g (0) in both PST and PHF cases for different
1/2

1/2
values of K and M keeping Pr = 0.7 and Ec = 0.2 fixed. It is found that the magnitudes of −Res Cf
and −θ  (0) are decreased by increasing the values of K, whereas the magnitude of g(0) increases as K
increases. Therefore, the rate of heat transfer is higher for a curved sheet on the surface when compared
1/2
to a flat sheet. But the magnitudes of −Res Cf and g (0) are increased by increasing the values of M ,
while the magnitude of −θ  (0) decreases as the magnetic field M increases. Table 3 gives the numerical
values of −θ  (0) and g (0) for different values of K, Pr, and Ec when M = 0.2. It is observed that
the magnitude of −θ  (0) is increased by increasing the value of K and Pr, while it decreases as Ec is

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 HEAT TRANSFER ANALYSIS FOR STRETCHING FLOW 343

Table 1. Numerical values of the skin friction coefficient −Re1/2

s Cf when M = 0

K Sajid et al. [11] Present results

5 0.75763 1.15763
10 0.87349 1.07349
20 0.93561 1.03561
30 0.95686 1.02353
40 0.96759 1.01759
50 0.97405 1.01405
100 0.98704 1.00704
200 0.99356 1.00356
1000 0.99880 1.00079
∞ 1.00000 1.00000

Table 2. Numerical values of skin friction coefficient −Re1/2
s Cf and rate of heat transfer at the surface −θ (0) and
g(0) for different values of K and M when Pr = 0.7 and Ec = 0.2

K M −Re1/2
s Cf −θ (0) g(0)
5 0.2 1.22881 0.43268 2.08483
10 0.2 1.12311 0.41896 2.17432
20 0.2 1.07541 0.41094 2.22679
50 0.2 1.04849 0.40571 2.26121
100 0.2 1.03982 0.40390 2.27320
200 0.2 1.03553 0.40298 2.27930
1000 0.2 1.03212 0.40224 2.28424
10 0 1.10236 0.42309 2.15964
10 0.2 1.12311 0.41896 2.17432
10 0.4 1.18306 0.40717 2.21695
10 0.6 1.27633 0.38927 2.28357
10 0.8 1.39562 0.36727 2.36867
10 1 1.53419 0.34304 2.46643

increased. It is further noted that the magnitude of g (0) in the case of PHF has the opposite behavior
when compared it with −θ  (0) in the case of PST.

4. CONCLUDING REMARKS
In this paper, the heat transfer analysis on the MHD boundary layer flow of a viscous fluid on a curved
stretching surface is investigated. The heat transfer analysis is discussed by considering the two heat
processes, namely, prescribed surface temperature (PST) and described heat flux (PHF). The resultant
nonlinear ordinary differential equations are solved numerically using a shooting method with Runge–
Kutta algorithm. The effects of secondary parameters on the velocity and temperature distributions are
discussed through graphs and tables. The following observations have been made:

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344 ABBAS et al.

Table 3. Numerical values of rate of heat transfer at the surface −θ (0) and g(0) for different values of Pr, Ec, and
K when M = 0.2

Ec = 0.2 Ec = 0.5
K Pr  
−θ (0) g(0) −θ (0) g(0)
5 0.7 0.43268 2.08483 0.29727 2.34376
5 1 0.49996 1.79843 0.31051 2.10094
5 1.5 0.60670 1.49819 0.33260 1.84540
5 3 0.85927 1.11802 0.35964 1.53705
5 5 1.08839 0.94468 0.32416 1.42296
5 7 1.25649 0.86686 0.25140 1.38857
5 10 1.44879 0.80822 0.11167 1.37959
10 0.7 0.41896 2.17432 0.30525 2.40416
10 1 0.49764 1.83255 0.33900 2.09545
10 1.5 0.61914 1.49358 0.39045 1.78997
10 3 0.89902 1.08585 0.48325 1.43934
10 5 1.15654 0.90096 0.52040 1.30342
10 7 1.35083 0.81619 0.51397 1.25463
10 10 1.57953 0.75041 0.46592 1.23001

• Both velocity and temperature profiles are decreased by increasing the dimensionless radius of
curvature K.
• The velocity profiles f and f  are decreased, while the temperature profiles θ and g are increased for
large values of M .
• The temperature distributions θ and g are decreased as Pr increases.
• The numerical results can be obtained without magnetic field by taking M = 0.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
M. Sajid acknowledges support from the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics,
Trieste, Italy. Some part of this paper has been produced during the authors visit to AS-ICTP.

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