Unsteady inclined stagnation point flow and thermal transmission of Maxwell fluid on a stretched/contracted plate with modified pressure field

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the two-dimensional unsteady inclined stagnation point flow and thermal transmission of Maxwell fluid on oscillating stretched/contracted plates. First, based on the momentum equation at infinity, pressure field is modified by solving first-order differential equation. Meanwhile, thermal relaxation characteristic of fluid is described by Cattaneo-Christov thermal diffusion model. Design/methodology/approach Highly coupled model equations are transformed into simpler partial differential equations (PDE) via appropriate dimensionless variables. The approximate analytical solutions of unsteady inclined stagnation point flow on oscillating stretched and contracted plates are acquired by homotopy analysis method for the first time, to the best of the authors' knowledge. Findings Results indicate that because of tensile state of plate, streamline near stagnation point disperses to both sides with stagnation point as center, while in the case of shrinking plate, streamline near stagnation point is concentrated near stagnation point. The enhancement of velocity ratio parameter leads to increasing of pressure variation rate, which promotes flow of fluid. In tensile state, surface friction coefficient on both sides of stagnation point has opposite symbols; when the plate is in shrinkage state, there is reflux near the right side of the stagnation point. In addition, although the addition of unsteady parameters and thermal relaxation parameters reduce heat transfer efficiency of fluid, heat transfer of fluid near the plate can also be enhanced by considering thermal relaxation effect when plate shrinks. Originality/value First, approximate analytical solutions of unsteady inclined stagnation point flow on oscillating stretched and contracted plates are researched, respectively. Second, pressure field is further modified. Finally, based on this, thermal relaxation characteristic of fluid is described by Cattaneo-Christov thermal diffusion model.