Exact approximations for skin friction coefficient and convective heat transfer coefficient for a class of power law fluids flow over a semi-infinite plate: Results from similarity solutions

Abstract

In the present work, it is aimed to derive exact formulations for skin friction coefficient (Cf) and convective heat transfer coefficient (h) for power law fluids with 0.8 < n < 1.2 flow over a semi-infinite plate and with the constant wall temperature boundary condition. Similarity analysis was employed to solve the problem for 410,000 cases with different power law indexes (n) and Prandtl numbers (0.1 < Pr < 1000). Finally, based on the acquired data from similarity solutions, exact approximations (with R-Square ∼ 1) are proposed for Cf and also h. These exact formulations can be considered as replaces for the former ones in the literature for Newtonian fluids (n = 1).