Similarity solutions for the mixed convection flow over a vertical plate with thermal radiation

The steady laminar boundary layer flow adjacent to a vertical plate with prescribed surface temperature immersed in an incompressible viscous fluid, where the effect of thermal radiation was taken into consideration, was investigated. The governing partial differential equations were transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations using similarity transformation, before being solved numerically by the shooting method. Both assisting and opposing buoyant flows were considered. It is found that dual solutions exist for both cases. Moreover, numerical results show that the heat transfer rate at the surface decreases in the presence of the radiation effect.