Falkner-Skan problem for a static or moving wedge in nanofluids

The steady two-dimensional boundary layer flow past a static or a moving wedge immersed in nano-fluids is investigated numerically. An implicit finite difference scheme known as the Keller-box method and the NAG routine DO2HAF are used to obtain the numerical solutions. Three different types of nanoparticles, namely copper Cu, alumina Al2O3 and titania TiO2 with water as the base fluid are considered. The effects of the governing parameters on the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics are analyzed and discussed. It is found that Cu-water has the highest skin friction coefficient and the heat transfer rate at the surface compared with the others. The effect of the solid volume fraction of nanoparticles on the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics is found to be more pronounced compared to the type of the nanoparticles. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.