Effects of Nanofluid on Peristaltic Flow of a Carreau Fluid Model
in an Inclined Magnetic Field
Safia Akram
Department of Basic Sciences, MCS, National University of Sciences and Technology,
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
In the present article we talk about the influence of a nanofluid on the peristaltic
flow of a Carreau fluid model in the presence of an inclined channel and magnetic
field. The mathematical modeling of the proposed problem is given for the two-
dimensional and directional flow. The governing highly nonlinear coupled equations
are simplified by means of the assumptions of long wavelength and low Reynolds
number approximation. The solutions of the simplified coupled nonlinear equations
are calculated using an analytical approach. At the end, graphical results are displayed
to show the effects of various emerging parameters of interest. © 2013 Wiley
Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 43(4): 368–383, 2014; Published online
3 October 2013 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/htj). DOI
10.1002/htj.21082
Key words: nanofluid, Carreau fluid, peristaltic flow, inclined channel,
magnetic field
1. Introduction
The theory of nanofluids has the interest of researchers due to its applications in sciences and
industry. Nanofluids are an emergent mixture which consists of solid particles distributed in
conventional heat transfer base fluids. Base fluids (like water, ethylene glycol, etc.) have the ability to
increase the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. The first analysis on nanofluids was given
by Choi [1]. The convective performance of a CuO/water nanofluid in an electronic heat sink was
studied by Selvakumar and Suresh [2]. In their inspection they pointed out that nanoparticles
dispersed in the base fluids have overcome the limitations of micron-sized particles. The
axisymmetric mixed convection boundary layer flows past a vertical cylinder in a nanofluid have
been examined by Grosan and Pop [3]. Yacob et al. [4] have examined the Falkner–Skan problem for
a static and moving wedge with a prescribed surface heat flux in a nanofluid. Numerous other
researchers have also carried out similar work [5–10].
The study of peristaltic flow is another important area which has recently attracted the attention
of many researchers. Peristalsis is basically a mechanism which is produced by successive waves of
contractions which pushes their fluid (or fluid-like contents) forward. The first investigation was done
by Latham [11]. Numerous researchers have discussed the peristaltic flows of Newtonian and
non-Newtonian fluids with different flow geometries [12–17]. Akram and Nadeem [18] have
© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Heat Transfer—Asian Research, 43 (4), 2014
368