Scaling group transformation for MHD boundary layer free convective heat and mass transfer flow past a convectively heated nonlinear radiating stretching sheet

Free convective heat and mass transfer flow over a moving permeable flat vertical stretching sheet in the presence of non-uniform magnetic field is numerically investigated. Effects of thermal radiation and convective surface boundary condition on steady boundary layer flow of a viscous incompressible electrically conducting fluid are considered. A scaling group of transformation is applied to the governing equations and the boundary conditions. After finding three absolute invariants a third order ordinary differential equation corresponding to the momentum equation and two second order ordinary differential equations corresponding to energy and diffusion equations are derived. Furthermore the similarity equations with the corresponding boundary conditions are solved numerically by using Runge-Kutta-Felberg fourth-fifth order numerical method. Numerical results for velocity, temperature, and concentration distributions as well as skin friction coefficient, local Nusselt, and Sherwood numbers are discussed for various values of physical parameters. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.