Experimental velocity profiles in laminar flow around spheres at intermediate Reynolds numbers

Normal and tangential velocities in the boundary layer and out into the free stream have been obtained using a non-disturbing flow visualization technique for uniform laminar flow around a sphere. The non-similar data are available in tables at 2.5° intervals from 20° from the front to about 15° past the separation point a t Reynolds numbers of 290, 750, 1300 and 3000. Stream functions calculated by LeClair using a numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equation at Re 21 300 are not in good agreement with measured values from 30° to 60°, but are in much better agreement around the separation point. Too few grid points near the sphere where the tangential velocities rise to a maximum above free-stream values may account for the difference.