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On existence and multiplicity of similarity solutions to a nonlinear differential equation arising in magnetohydrodynamic Falkner–Skan flow for decelerated flows
Author(s) -
Naseri R.,
Malek A.,
Van Gorder R. A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
mathematical methods in the applied sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.719
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1099-1476
pISSN - 0170-4214
DOI - 10.1002/mma.3363
Subject(s) - uniqueness , mathematics , monotonic function , monotone polygon , nonlinear system , magnetohydrodynamic drive , flow (mathematics) , mathematical analysis , multiplicity (mathematics) , magnetohydrodynamics , physics , magnetic field , geometry , quantum mechanics
Previously, existence and uniqueness of a class of monotone similarity solutions for a nonlinear differential equation arising in magnetohydrodynamic Falkner–Skan flow were considered in the case of accelerating flows. It was shown that a solution satisfying certain monotonicity properties exists and is unique for the case of accelerated flows and some decelerated flows. In this paper, we show that solutions to the problem can exist for decelerated flows even when the monotonicity conditions do not hold. In particular, these types of solutions have nonmonotone second derivatives and are, hence, a distinct type of solution from those studied previously. By virtue of this result, the present paper demonstrates the existence of an important type of solution for decelerated flows. Importantly, we show that multiple solutions can exist for the case of strongly decelerated flows, and this occurs because of the fact that the solutions do not satisfy the aforementioned monotonicity requirements. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.