Finite element and Chebyshev finite difference methods for micropolar flow past a stretching surface with heat and mass transfer

This paper presents a numerical study of a micropolar fluid flowing past a stretching surface involving both heat and mass transfer with Ohmic heating and viscous dissipation. A similarity transformation is employed to change the governing equations into nonlinear coupled higher-order ordinary differential equations. These equations are solved numerically using a finite element method with linear shape functions and a Chebyshev finite difference method that involves higher-order polynomials. Numerical results of both methods have been compared with the closed-form solution of a particular case when the material parameter is taken to be zero. Good agreement between the numerical results of both methods, together with excellent agreement with the closed-form solution, ensures the reliability of using linear shape functions in the finite element method. The effect of the parameters governing the problem on the velocity, microrotation, temperature and concentration functions has been studied for different boundary conditions.