Effects of chemical reaction and radiation on an unsteady MHD flow past an accelerated infinite vertical plate with variable temperature and mass transfer

This paper deals with the study of the effects of first order chemical reaction and radiation on an unsteady MHD flow of an incompressible viscous electrically conducting fluid past an accelerated infinite vertical plate with variable temperature and mass transfer. The resulting approximate dimensionless system of governing partial differential equations are integrated in closed form by the Laplace transform technique A uniform magnetic field is assumed to be applied transversely to the direction of the flow. Rosseland model of radiation has been chosen in the investigation, the expressions for the velocity field, temperature field and concentration field and skin-friction in the direction of the flow, coefficient of heat transfer and mass flux at the plate have been obtained in non-dimensional form and these are illustrated graphically for various physical parameters involved in the study. Investigation reveals that the fluid velocity is decelerated in the region adjacent to the plate, due to the effect of first order chemical reaction and the rate of heat transfer (from plate to the fluid) decreases due to the absorption of thermal radiation. The results obtained in this work are consistent with physical situation of the problem.