Homotopy analysis method for MHD viscoelastic fluid flow and heat transfer in a channel with a stretching wall

In this paper, we analyze the flow and heat transfer characteristics of a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) viscoelastic fluid in a parallel plate channel with a stretching wall. Homotopy analysis method (HAM) is used to obtain analytical solutions of the governing nonlinear differential equations. The analytical solutions are obtained in the form of infinite series and the convergence of the series solution is discussed explicitly. The obtained results are presented through graphs for several sets of values of the parameters, and the salient features of the solutions are analyzed. A comparison of our HAM results (for a special case of the study) with the available results in the literature (obtained by other methods) shows that our results are accurate for a wide range of parameters. Further, we point that our analysis finds application to the study of the haemodynamic flow of blood in the cardiovascular system subject to external magnetic field. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved