Stagnation flow towards a shrinking sheet

The stagnation flow towards a shrinking sheet is studied. A similarity transform reduces the Navier-Stokes equations to a set of non-linear ordinary differential equations which are then integrated numerically. Both two-dimensional and axisymmetric stagnation flows are considered. It is found that solutions do not exist for larger shrinking rates and may be non-unique in the two-dimensional case. The non-alignment of the stagnation flow and the shrinking sheet complicates the flow structure. Convective heat transfer decreases with the shrinking rate due to an increase in boundary layer thickness. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.