Numerical Analysis of Temperature-Dependent Thermal Boundary Layers in Falkner-Skan Flow of Viscoelastic Fluids

This study numerically investigates the Falkner-Skan thermal boundary layer for viscoelastic fluids, focusing on the influence of temperature-dependent material properties on flow and heat transfer dynamics. Using a second-order viscoelastic constitutive model, coupled heat transfer and boundary layer equations were solved to account for variations in viscosity, thermal conductivity, and specific heat with temperature. Realistic boundary conditions, including constant temperature and constant heat flux, were implemented. Results indicate that increasing the first normal stress coefficient from 0.5 to 1.5 expands the thermal boundary layer thickness by 25%, while Prandtl numbers ranging from 1 to 50 reduce boundary layer thickness by up to 40%. Favorable pressure gradients enhance heat transfer, leading to a 30% increase in the local Nusselt number along the wedge. These findings provide critical insights into the thermal behavior of viscoelastic fluids, with applications in optimizing heat transfer processes in polymer extrusion, chemical reactors, and industrial coating systems.