Original Article NANOMATERIALS NANOENGINEERING AND NANOSYSTEMS Proc IMechE Part N: J Nanomaterials, Nanoengineering and Nanosystems 2018, Vol. 232(1) 31–40 Ó IMechE 2017 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/2397791417744702 journals.sagepub.com/home/pin Magneto-hydrodynamic Blasius flow and heat transfer from a flat plate in the presence of suspended carbon nanofluids Mahantesh M Nandeppanavar 1 , Rama Subba Reddy Gorla 2 and S Shakunthala 1 Abstract In this article, we have discussed the effect of external magnetic field and other governing parameters on the flow and heat transfer in the presence of suspended carbon nanotubes over a flat plate. The governing equations of flow and heat transfer are derived from the Navier–Stokes and Prandtl boundary layer concept. The derived governing equations of flow and energy are non-linear partial differential equation, and these equations are converted into non-linear ordinary differential equations with corresponding boundary conditions using some suitable similarity transformations and are solved numerically using fourth-order Runge–Kutta method with efficient shooting technique. Effects of governing para- meters on flow and heat transfer are shown through various graphs and explained with physical interpretation in detail. This study has applications in glass-fiber production and technology. On observing the results of this study, we can con- clude that external magnetic field shows opposite behaviors on velocity and temperature and it enhances the rate of heat transfer. Keywords Blasius flow, heat transfer, magneto-hydrodynamic, nanofluids, ordinary differential equation, partial differential equation, numerical solution, single-wall carbon nanotube, multi-wall carbon nanotube Date received: 15 August 2017; accepted: 18 September 2017 Introduction The nanofluids are engineered colloidal suspensions of nanoparticle (1–100nm) in a base fluid. The very com- monly used base fluids are water and organic liquids. Nanoparticle is made up of chemically stable metals, metal oxides, or carbon in different forms. The size of the nanoparticle is in unique characteristics to the base fluids, including energy, momentum, and mass transfer with reduced tendency for sedimentation and erosion of the surfaces. Nanofluids are being investigated for various applications, including cooling, manufacturing, chemical and pharmaceutical processes, medical treat- ments, and cosmetics. Churchill and Char 1 investigated the development of a complete set of continuous, com- prehensive interrelating equations for the recovery fac- tor and for the various functions of the flow field which are necessary for manipulating the heat transfer of the laminar boundary layer regime. Smith 2 studied the influence of boundary layer growth on the flow sta- bility of the Blasius boundary layer and analyzed a rational, large Reynolds number, basis for small varia- tion of fixed frequency. Pantokratoras 3 theoretically studied on the variable fluid properties of Blasius and Sakiadis flow of a non-Newtonian Carreau fluid and analyzed the physical properties of engine oil, air, and temperature, and after studying the various properties, they found that viscosity is stronger than the character- istics of the other fluids, whereas air considered as gas in which some inaccurate results have been found. Khan et al. 4 analyzed the effects of radiation on Blasius slip flow of oxide nanofluids with Merkin 1 Department of Studies and Research in Mathematics, Government College, Gulbarga, Karnataka, India 2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA Corresponding author: Rama Subba Reddy Gorla, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA. Email: r.gorla@csuohio.edu