Sensitivity Analysis for Sisko Nanofluid Flow Through Stretching Surface Using Response Surface Methodology

In this research, the influences of quadratic Boussinesq approximation and quadratic thermal radiation on the heat transfer analysis of magnetized Sisko nanofluid flow with Cattaneo-Christov heat flux through stretching surfaces are studied. The formulated mathematical model is solved by the finite difference technique, and heat transfer rate and skin friction coefficients are computed for acting parameters, i.e., magnetic field, Eckert number, Forchheimer parameter, thermal relaxation parameter, radiation parameter, porosity parameter and Biot number. For sensitivity analysis, the response surface method (RSM) with a face-centered central composite design is utilized. The RSM is elucidated by applying nonlinear regression, analysis of variance and goodness of fit. The results indicate that the friction coefficient and Nusselt number have positive sensitivities for the Forchheimer parameter. The heat transfer rate decreases with an increase in magnetic field, Biot number and thermal relaxation parameter values for shear thickening (n > 1) and shear thinning (n < 1). Further for n < 1, a one unit increase in A1 leads to a 33% drop in SFC and 48% in LNN; and an increase of 8 units in Fr leads to a 67.18% rise in LNN.