Open research questions in Nanofluid Flow and Heat Transfer

What the literature leaves open

• Prior studies have not considered the combined effects of nonlinear stretching, induced magnetic field, thermal radiation, and chemical reaction on Burgers' nanofluid flow. There is a lack of comprehensive mathematical models to investigate the impacts of different parameters on velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles. The study aims to fill this gap by developing a mathematical model and solving it numerically to investigate the impacts of different parameters on velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles.

  Numerical investigation of radiative chemically reactive induced-mhd burgers’ nanofluid flow over a nonlinear stretching sheet · 2026 · DOI

• Investigating the effects of more complex boundary conditions on the onset of convection - Examining the influence of non-Newtonian fluid behavior on the stability of the system - Studying the effects of thermal conductivity and permeability anisotropy on the critical Darcy-Rayleigh number

  Mixed velocity and thermal boundary effects on the onset of LTNE anisotropic Darcy–Bénard convection · 2026 · DOI

• The lack of investigation on the effects of mixed velocity and thermal boundary conditions. The need to understand LTNE Darcy-Bénard convection in anisotropic porous layers.

  Mixed velocity and thermal boundary effects on the onset of LTNE anisotropic Darcy–Bénard convection · 2026 · DOI

• The study only focused on two kinds of oxide nanofluids, - The study only investigated the thermal conductivity and rheological properties, - More experimental research studies are needed

  An Experimental Study on the Effect of Nanofluids on the Thermal Conductivity and Rheological Properties of a Coolant for Liquids · 2024 · DOI

• More experimental research studies are needed to obtain the best types of nanoparticle additives, - Research on the effects of different volume fractions of nanoparticles, - Research on the effects of temperature on the rheological properties

  An Experimental Study on the Effect of Nanofluids on the Thermal Conductivity and Rheological Properties of a Coolant for Liquids · 2024 · DOI

• The significance of interfacial thermal resistance in the thermal conductivity of nanofluids is not well understood, in part because of the absence of measurements of this quantity.

  Probing the thermal resistance of solid–liquid interfaces in nanofluids with molecular dynamics · 2024 · DOI

• While the paper demonstrates enhanced capability to predict fluid behavior in complex conditions, the practical implementation and optimization of the trade-off between hydrodynamic shear and thermal/mass-transfer performance in real engineering applications (nanofluid cooling, coating technologies, polymer extrusion) requires further investigation.

  Influence of pressure gradient and buoyancy on viscous dissipation and Joule heating in Carreau nanofluid flow · 2026 · DOI

• Further studies can explore the application of the proposed approach to other complex biological systems. Future research can investigate the effects of other parameters on thermal transport in stenosed arterial blood flow.

  Thermal Transport Characteristics of Fractional Maxwell Fluid Model for Blood Flow in a Stenosed Artery · 2026 · DOI

• The need for a more realistic representation of thermal transport in stenosed arterial blood flow. The limitations of existing models in capturing the complex rheological characteristics of blood.

  Thermal Transport Characteristics of Fractional Maxwell Fluid Model for Blood Flow in a Stenosed Artery · 2026 · DOI

• The effects of magnetic fields, porous medium, chemical reaction, and nanoparticles on blood flow in stenosed arteries are not well understood. There is a need for a semi-analytical solution for pulsatile blood flow in a stenosed artery under magnetic and thermal effects.

  Semi-Analytical Study of Pulsatile Nanofluid Flow in Porous Stenosed Arteries Under Magnetic and Thermal Effects · 2026 · DOI

• Future studies can extend the present model to account for more complex physical phenomena. Future studies can use experimental methods to validate the results of the present study.

  Significance of variable thermal conductivity on magnetized Sutterby nanofluid over stretching sheet with viscous dissipation impacts · 2026 · DOI

• The study identifies a gap in the literature for a comprehensive model of Sutterby nanofluid flow over a stretched sheet. The study aims to fill this gap by developing a novel mathematical model and solving it using the Chebyshev spectral collocation method.

  Significance of variable thermal conductivity on magnetized Sutterby nanofluid over stretching sheet with viscous dissipation impacts · 2026 · DOI

• Insufficient heat dissipation in conventional coolants like water and air. The need for a predictive framework for nanoparticle-enhanced automotive radiator cooling. The challenge of achieving a constructive trade-off between thermal enhancement and hydraulic disadvantage.

  Intelligent performance prediction of nanoparticle-enhanced automotive radiator cooling using CFD and machine learning · 2026 · DOI

• The study does not mention any specific limitations. However, it can be inferred that the study is limited to the specific nanoparticle concentration range and radiator design.

  Intelligent performance prediction of nanoparticle-enhanced automotive radiator cooling using CFD and machine learning · 2026 · DOI

• Future research could focus on experimental validation of the numerical simulation approach. The study suggests further investigation into the effects of nanoparticle thickness on heat transfer performance. The research could be extended to explore the application of GnP-based nanofluids in other thermal management systems.

  Numerical Simulation of Graphene-Nanoplatelet Nanofluid Convection in a Microtube Automotive Radiator · 2026 · DOI

• The study identifies a gap in the existing literature regarding the heat transfer performance of microtube radiators with GnP suspensions. The research highlights the need for advanced technologies to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions in the transportation sector.

  Numerical Simulation of Graphene-Nanoplatelet Nanofluid Convection in a Microtube Automotive Radiator · 2026 · DOI

• The research is limited to the study of micropolar nanofluid flow over an exponentially stretching inclined surface. The analysis is based on the Kellerbox method, which is a computer-based mathematical method.

  Numerical Analysis of Heat and Mass Transmission for Micropolar Nanofluid Flow over an Inclined Surface with Soret-Dufour Effects · 2026 · DOI

• The lack of research on the Soret and Dufour effects in the context of micropolar nanofluid flow. The need for analysis of the numerical outcomes of transformed nonlinear ordinary differential equations using the Kellerbox method.

  Numerical Analysis of Heat and Mass Transmission for Micropolar Nanofluid Flow over an Inclined Surface with Soret-Dufour Effects · 2026 · DOI

• The nonlinear rheological behavior and complex transport mechanisms of hybrid and ternary nanofluids pose substantial modeling difficulties. There is a need for a novel approach to investigate the parameters influencing the heat transfer of these nanofluids.

  Computational intelligence-based investigation of heat transfer enhancement and entropy optimization in tri-hybrid nanofluid flow over a paraboloid needle · 2026 · DOI

• The complexity of the flow problem, which involves coupled reaction transport in Casson rheology. The need to consider multiple factors, including nanoparticle-enhanced heat transfer, magnetic control, surface slip, chemical reaction, and inertial porous effects.

  Radiative and Viscous Dissipative Flow of a Chemically Reacting MHD Casson Nanofluid over an Inclined Slippery Stretching Surface with Non-Darcian Medium · 2026 · DOI

• The lack of a unified investigation of radiative and viscous dissipative magnetohydrodynamic flow of a chemically reacting Casson nanofluid. The need for a realistic model for high-temperature industrial, biomedical, and energy applications.

  Radiative and Viscous Dissipative Flow of a Chemically Reacting MHD Casson Nanofluid over an Inclined Slippery Stretching Surface with Non-Darcian Medium · 2026 · DOI

• The classical Navier-Stokes equations are insufficient for accurately modeling and analyzing various complex fluids. There is a need for a comprehensive analysis of the magnetohydrodynamic mixed convection flow of a viscoelastic fluid with entropy generation.

  Mixed-convection MHD non-Newtonian fluid with entropy generation · 2026 · DOI

• The study of thermally radiative magnetohydrodynamic flow is important for managing high-temperature processes, but there is a lack of detailed analysis of the flow pattern and its influence by parameters related to chemical reactions, radiation, and plate oscillation.

  Chemical Reaction and Hall Current in Thermally Radiative Magnetohydrodynamic Flow Along an Oscillating Vertical Plate · 2026 · DOI

• The paper identifies a gap in the existing literature regarding the analysis of variable thermal conductivity and viscosity for different shapes of hybrid nanoparticles. The study highlights the need for a comprehensive analysis of the impact of variable viscosity and thermal conductivity on velocity and temperature profiles.

  Heat Transfer and Thermal Radiation Inspection of MHD Flow of Hybrid Nanofluid with Variable Viscosity and Thermal Conductivity Using Various Shapes · 2026 · DOI

• The study of blood flow through stenotic arteries is a complex problem due to the non-Newtonian behavior of blood and the irregular geometry of the stenosis. The need for a robust numerical method to solve nonlinear momentum, energy, and species concentration equations.

  A comprehensive study of magnetohydrodynamic blood flow in a time-invariant porous artery with multi-irregular stenoses · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Nanofluid Flow and Heat Transfer

• Nanofluids: Key parameters to enhance thermal conductivity and its applications · Applied Thermal Engineering · 2022 · 250 citations
• Model‐based comparative study of magnetohydrodynamics unsteady hybrid nanofluid flow between two infinite parallel plates with particle shape effects · Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences · 2022 · 196 citations
• Effects of activation energy and chemical reaction on unsteady MHD dissipative Darcy–Forchheimer squeezed flow of Casson fluid over horizontal channel · Scientific Reports · 2023 · 165 citations
• Synthesis, stability, density, viscosity of ethylene glycol-based ternary hybrid nanofluids: Experimental investigations and model -prediction using modern machine learning techniques · Powder Technology · 2022 · 162 citations
• Hybrid-nanofluid magneto-convective flow and porous media contribution to entropy generation · International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat &amp Fluid Flow · 2024 · 154 citations
• Simulation of hybrid boiling nano fluid flow with convective boundary conditions through a porous stretching sheet through Levenberg Marquardt artificial neural networks approach · International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer · 2024 · 136 citations
• RETRACTED ARTICLE: Analysis of the Thomson and Troian velocity slip for the flow of ternary nanofluid past a stretching sheet · Scientific Reports · 2023 · 135 citations
• Magnetized Cross tetra hybrid nanofluid passed a stenosed artery with nonuniform heat source (sink) and thermal radiation: Novel tetra hybrid Tiwari and Das nanofluid model · Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials · 2023 · 133 citations
• Numerical analysis of magnetohydrodynamics Casson nanofluid flow with activation energy, Hall current and thermal radiation · Scientific Reports · 2023 · 130 citations
• Study of nonlinear radiative heat transfer with magnetic field for non-Newtonian Casson fluid flow in a porous medium · Results in Physics · 2023 · 129 citations

Most recent work

• Double-diffusive convective entropy generation in rheological nanomaterial with non-Fourier Cattaneo-Christov fluxes for thermal energy storage systems · Journal of Energy Storage · 2026
• Experimental investigation of the thermofluid performance and exergy analysis of a shell and twisted conical coil · Applied Thermal Engineering · 2026
• Intelligent predictive neural network analysis on two phase bioconvection flow of dusty hybrid nanofluid with Cattaneo Christov flux model and melting phenomena · Discover Nano · 2026
• Machine learning analysis of blood hybrid nanofluid flow inside a stenosis artery with heat generation and thermophoresis · Thermochimica Acta · 2026
• Homann modeling of thermodynamic optimization on yield-stress nanofluid with radiation and bioconvection effects · Modern Physics Letters B · 2026
• Neuro-computing prediction of thermal transfer rate in micropolar hybrid nanofluid flow past a stretching/shrinking surface: a Keller box numerical scheme · International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow · 2026
• Numerical study of tri-hybrid nanofluids in a rectangular cavity with an enclosed circle via COMSOL and Levenberg-Marquardt method · Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence · 2026
• Numerical and experimental analysis of nanoparticle deposition within geometrically varied microchannels · International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer · 2026
• Thermal modeling of Johnson–Segalman nanofluid in blade coating process: a comparative study with machine learning framework · Journal of Polymer Engineering · 2026
• Three-dimensional rotating flow of couple stress fluid with slip constraints and activation energy: a response surface and sensitivity analysis · International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow · 2026

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