Summary: | Abstract The dynamics of cosmological expansion is studied for a spatially flat matter-dominated universe filled with barotropic casual bulk viscous fluid. The evolution equation for the Hubble parameter is derived using Friedmann equations and conservation law for the viscous fluid, in which the viscous pressure is modeled by truncated version of the full Israel-Stewart theory of bulk viscosity. We use a Lie symmetry-based approach to study the evolution of the expansion rate of the Universe. The model equation possesses eight-parameter Lie symmetry generators and gives two different analytic group invariant solutions for the Hubble parameter. Expressions for various important cosmological parameters are obtained and values are estimated analytically for the explanation of the evolution dynamics of the Universe. The interesting features of the obtained symmetry-based solutions are that, one satisfies the present acceleration of the Universe, while the other could not support present accelerating phase, rather represents a universe dominated by non-viscous stiff fluid. We make useful checks on the observational constraints on the model parameters from the latest released observational data. The accelerating phase of the current universe is investigated using observational bounds and compared the model under investigation with the $$\Lambda $$ Λ CDM model. The evolutionary cosmic phases obtained from the analysis of the Lie symmetry-based solutions correspond to the association with the critical points in the equivalent phase space. These interesting features are investigated and analyzed using dynamical systems approach.
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