Cattaneo–Christov heat transfer model for tangent hyperbolic fluid with Thompson–Torian slip and melting effects

Abstract This work investigates thermal enhancement in fluid flow over a nonlinear stretching sheet. The thickness of the sheet is variable and the flow of the fluid is affected by solar radiation energy with Thompson and Troian slip effects. The flow is magnetized by applying a magnetic field in the normal direction to the flow system. Moreover, thermal transport is controlled by incorporating the Cattaneo–Christov heat fluid model into the flow problem. The governing equations, initially framed in their dimensional form, are meticulously transformed into a dimensionless framework to simplify the analysis. These dimensionless equations are then solved using the homotopy analysis method (HAM). It is observed in this study that upsurges in the stagnation parameter, critical shear rate and velocity slip factor augment the velocity distribution while reducing the thermal profiles. The velocity distribution deteriorates while the thermal profiles are amplified with expansions in the magnetic factor and power law index. The thermal distribution also increases with rising Prandtl number and radiation factor. Augmentation of the power-law index, velocity slip parameter, critical shear rate, magnetic factor and stagnation parameter leads to an increased Nusselt number. The modeled problem is validated by comparing the current results with established work for different values of nonlinear stretching factor n in terms of the drag force and thermal flow rate at η = 0, and a good agreement is observed between the current and established results.