The body of given volume with the smallest drag in Stokes flow is obtained by making use of theoretical results due to Pironneau. A suitable family of solutions of the Stokes equations is used and the no-slip condition is expressed numerically by a technique of quadratic minimization. We find that the drag on this optimal body is 0·95425 times the drag on the sphere of equal volume.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Joseph-Maurice Bourot (1974) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched one closely related paper. Consider it for comparative context: