Design/methodology/approach
The coupled non-linear partial differential boundary-layer equations governing the flow, heat and nano-particle and micro-organism mass transfer are reduced to a set of coupled non-dimensional equations using the appropriate transformations and then solved as an nonlinear boundary value problem with the semi-numerical Liao homotopy analysis method (HAM).Validation with a generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) numerical technique is included.
Findings
An increase in velocity slip results in a significant decrement in skin friction coefficient and Sherwood number, whereas it generates a substantial enhancement in Nusselt number and motile micro-organism number density. The computations reveal that the bioconvection Schmidt number decreases the micro-organism concentration and boundary-layer thickness which is attributable to a rise in viscous diffusion rate. Increasing bioconvection Péclet number substantially elevates the temperatures in the regime, thermal boundary layer thickness, nanoparticle concentration values and nano-particle species boundary layer thickness. The computations demonstrate the excellent versatility of HAM and GDQ in solving nonlinear multi-physical nano-bioconvection flows in thermal sciences and furthermore are relevant to application in the synthesis of smart biopolymers, microbial fuel cell coatings, etc.
Research limitations/implications
The numerical study is valid for two-dimensional, unsteady, laminar Casson film flow with nanoparticles over an elastic sheet in presence of variable heat, mass and nanoparticle volume fraction flux. The film has uniform thickness and flow is transpiring from slit which is fixed at origin.
Social implications
The study has significant applications in the manufacturing dynamics of nano-bio-polymers and the magnetic field control of materials processing systems. Furthermore, it is relevant to application in the synthesis of smart biopolymers, microbial fuel cell coatings, etc.
Originality/value
The originality of the study is to address the simultaneous effects of unsteady and variable surface fluxes on Casson nanofluid transport of gyrotactic bio-convection thin film over a stretching sheet in the presence of a transverse magnetic field. Validation of HAM with a GDQ numerical technique is included. The present numerical approaches (HAM and GDQ) offer excellent promise in simulating such multi-physical problems of interest in thermal thin film rheological fluid dynamics.