Abstract

Hall effects on an unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) free convective flow of a viscous incompressible electrically conducting optically thick radiating fluid past a vertical porous plate in the presence of a uniform transverse magnetic field are examined. The governing equations are solved numerically using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method with the shooting technique. Effects of the pertinent parameters on the flow field, temperature distribution, shear stresses and rate of heat transfer at the plate are presented in graphs and tables followed by a quantitative discussion. The results reveal that the flow field and the temperature distribution are greatly influenced by thermal radiation parameter. Hall currents moderate the flow field significantly. Suction (or injection) has a profound effect on the boundary layer thickness in which the suction reduces the thermal boundary layer thickness whereas injection thickens it.