Viscous flow round a sphere at low Reynolds numbers (<40)

Relaxation methods are outlined, and the present problem formulated in modified spherical polar co-ordinates. The results of calculations made for R = 5, 10, 20, 40 are presented in the form of stream function and vorticity distributions; and further results of pressure distributions, velocity distributions, and drag coefficients, calculated from them . These results are shown to compare favourably with experimental work, showing a steady trend from symmetrical Stokes’s flow, towards boundary layer flow. The phenomenon of separation of the forward flow and development of a circulating wake, is explained and illustrated, the first formation of a wake being a R = 17.