Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part B (2025)

The present study investigates the complex dynamics of heat and mass transfer in Prandtl fluids affected by the combined effects of thermal radiation, chemical reactions, and resistive (Joule) heating. This flow setup is crucial in many engineering and industrial applications, including high-temperature polymer processing, chemical manufacturing, and energy systems where thermal and reactive transport processes coexist. A two-dimensional, steady, incompressible flow model is created to describe the behavior of a non-Newtonian Prandtl fluid flowing over a stretching surface. The governing partial differential equations, which include momentum, energy, and concentration transport, are converted into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations using suitable similarity transformations. These equations are then solved numerically with a fourth-order Runge-Kutta method combined with a shooting technique to accurately meet the boundary conditions. The effects of key parameters, such as the radiation parameter, Prandtl number, Schmidt number, chemical reaction rate, and Joule heating coefficient, are thoroughly analyzed. Results show that thermal radiation notably increases the fluid temperature, thereby thickening the thermal boundary layer. Chemical reactions have a dual influence: for generative reactions, concentration profiles rise, while for destructive reactions, species concentration decreases. Joule heating adds to the system's overall energy, enhancing thermal diffusion and raising both the temperature and velocity of the fluid.