MHD Maxwell Fluid Flow Over a Vertical Cone with Thermal Radiation and Cattaneo-Christov Heat Flux: A Numerical Investigation

This study presents a numerical investigation of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a Maxwell non-Newtonian fluid over a vertical cone, incorporating thermal radiation and Cattaneo-Christov heat flux effects. The governing partial differential equations are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations using appropriate similarity transformations and solved numerically using the bvp4c solver in MATLAB. The influence of key dimensionless parameters, including the magnetic field parameter (Hartmann number), Weissenberg number, thermal radiation parameter, and thermal relaxation parameter, on velocity and temperature profiles is systematically analysed. Results indicate that increasing the magnetic field parameter intensifies the Lorentz force, which acts as a resistive drag that significantly reduces fluid velocity. Similarly, higher Weissenberg numbers enhance fluid elasticity, increasing resistance to deformation and suppressing momentum diffusion, thereby lowering velocity profiles. Conversely, thermal radiation enhances heat absorption within the fluid, acting as a volumetric heat source that elevates temperature profiles, while the thermal relaxation parameter reduces effective thermal diffusivity, resulting in decreased temperatures. Additionally, multiple linear regression analysis is employed to develop predictive models for skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number as functions of the governing parameters. The regression models demonstrate that the skin friction coefficient increases with both magnetic parameter and Weissenberg number, while the Nusselt number exhibits positive correlations with thermal radiation and thermal relaxation parameters.