On a certain boundary value problem arising in shrinking sheet flows

This paper presents an analysis of the boundary value problem resulting from the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) viscous flow influenced by a shrinking sheet with suction for the cases of two-dimensional (m = 1) and axisymmetric (m = 2) shrinking. The influences of the parameter m as well as the effects of suction parameter s and Hartmann number M-2 on similar entrainment velocity f(infinity) and flow characteristics are studied. To this purpose, the resulting nonlinear ordinary differential equation is solved numerically using the 4th order Runge-Kutta method in combination with a shooting procedure. The obtained results elucidate reliability and efficiency of the technique from which interesting features between the skin friction coefficient f ''(0) and the entrainment velocity f(infinity) as function of the mass transfer parameter s can also be obtained. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.