Non‐similar solution for unsteady water boundary layer flows over a sphere with non‐uniform mass transfer

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to make an analysis to study the non‐similar solution for unsteady water boundary layer flow over sphere with the influence of temperature‐dependent viscosity, Prandtl number, non‐uniform surface mass transfer and heat transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing quasi‐linear partial differential equations have been solved numerically using an implicit finite difference scheme along with a quasi‐linearization technique. Non‐similar solutions have been obtained from the starting point of the stream‐wise coordinate to the point where the skin friction value vanishes.

Findings

It is observed that non‐uniform suction causes the point of vanishing skin friction to move downstream. The slot injection causes the vanishing skin friction to move upstream.

Originality/value

The effect of unsteadiness is more significant on the skin friction as compared to the heat transfer.

Citation

Revathi, G., Saikrishnan, P. and Chamkha, A. (2013), "Non‐similar solution for unsteady water boundary layer flows over a sphere with non‐uniform mass transfer", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 23 No. 6, pp. 1104-1116. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-10-2011-0197