Approximately invariant solutions of creeping flow equations

In this paper, the steady creeping flow equations of a second grade fluid in cartesian coordinates are considered; the equations involve a small parameter related to the dimensionless non-Newtonian coefficient. According to a recently introduced approach, the first order approximate Lie symmetries of the equations are computed, some classes of approximately invariant solutions are explicitly determined, and a boundary value problem is analyzed. The main aim of the paper is methodological, and the considered mechanical model is used to test the reliability of the procedure in a physically important application.