1

Lecture Notes on Fluid Dynamics

(1.63J/2.21J)
by Chiang C. Mei, MIT
2007 Spring

2-5Stokes.tex

2.5 Stokes flow past a sphere

[Refs]
Lamb: Hydrodynamics
Acheson : Elementary Fluid Dynamics, p. 223 ff

One of the fundamental results in low Reynolds-number hydrodynamics is the Stokes so-
lution for steady flow past a small sphere. Applications range widely from the determination
of electron charges to the physics of aerosols.
The continuity equation reads
∇ · ~q = 0 (2.5.1)
With inertia neglected, the approximate momentum equation is
∇p
0=− + ν∇2 ~q (2.5.2)
ρ
Physically, the presssure gradient drives the flow by overcoming viscous resistence, but does
affect the fluid inertia significantly.
Refering to Figure 2.5 for the spherical coordinate system (r, θ, φ). Let the ambient
velocity be upward and along the polar (z) axis: (u, v, w) = (0, 0, W ). Axial symmetry
demands
∂
= 0, and ~q = (qr (r, θ), qθ (r, θ), 0)
∂φ
Using a known formula for the divergence in spherical polar coordinates, Eq. (2.5.1) becomes
1 ∂ 2 1 ∂
2
(r qr ) + (qθ sin θ) = 0 (2.5.3)
r ∂r r sin θ ∂θ
An equivalent and physically more revealing way is to write
∂ 2 ∂
(r qr sin θ) + (rqθ sin θ) = 0 (2.5.4)
∂r ∂θ
As in the case of rectangular coordinates, we define the stream function ψ to satisify the
continuity equation (2.5.4) identically
1 ∂ψ 1 ∂ψ
qr = , qθ = − (2.5.5)
r2 sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂r
2

r
q
o
y
f

Figure 2.5.1: The spherical coordinates

At infinity, the uniform velocity W along z axis can be decomposed into radial and polar
components
1 ∂ψ 1 ∂ψ
qr = W cos θ = , qθ = −W sin θ = − , r∼∞ (2.5.6)
r2 sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂r
The corresponding stream function at infinity follows by integration
W 2 2
ψ= r sin θ, r∼∞ (2.5.7)
2
Using the vector identity

∇ × (∇ × ~q) = ∇(∇ · ~q) − ∇2 ~q (2.5.8)

and (2.5.1), we get

∇2 ~q = −∇ × (∇ × ~q) = −∇ × ζ~ (2.5.9)
Taking the curl of (2.5.2) and using (2.5.9) we get
~ =0
∇ × (∇ × ζ) (2.5.10)

After some straightforward algebra given in the Appendix, we can show that
!
ψ~eφ
~q = ∇ × (2.5.11)
r sin θ

and
∂ 2 ψ sin θ ∂
! !!
ψ~eφ ~eφ 1 ∂ψ
ζ~ = ∇ × ~q = ∇ × ∇ × =− + 2 (2.5.12)
r sin θ r sin θ ∂r2 r ∂θ sin θ ∂θ
 3

Now from (2.5.10)

" !#
ψ~eφ
∇ × ∇ × (∇ × ~q) = ∇ × ∇ × ∇ × ∇ × =0
r sin θ

hence, the momentum equation (2.5.10) becomes a scalar equation for ψ.

!!2
∂2 sin θ ∂ 1 ∂
2
+ 2 ψ=0 (2.5.13)
∂r r ∂θ sin θ ∂θ

The boundary conditions on the sphere are

qr = 0 qθ = 0 on r = a (2.5.14)

The boundary conditions at ∞ is

W 2 2
ψ→ r sin θ (2.5.15)
2
Let us try a solution of the form:

ψ(r, θ) = f (r) sin2 θ (2.5.16)

then f is governed by the equi-dimensional differential equation:

#2
d2
"
2
2
− 2 f =0 (2.5.17)
dr r

whose solutions are of the form f (r) ∝ rn , It is easy to verify that n = −1, 1, 2, 4 so that
A
f (r) = + Br + Cr2 + Dr4
r
or
A
 
2
ψ = sin θ + Br + Cr2 + Dr4
r
To satisfy (2.5.15) we set D = 0, C = W/2. To satisfy (2.5.14) we use (2.5.5) to get
W A B A B
qr = 0 = + 3 + = 0, qθ = 0 = W − + =0
2 a a a3 a
Hence
1 3
A = W a3 , B = − Wa
4 4
Finally the stream function is

W 2 a3 3ar
" #
ψ= r + − sin2 θ (2.5.18)
2 2r 2
4

Inside the parentheses, the first term corresponds to the uniform flow, and the second term
to the doublet; together they represent an inviscid flow past a sphere. The third term is
called the Stokeslet, representing the viscous correction.
The velocity components in the fluid are: (cf. (2.5.5) :

a3
" #
3a
qr = W cos θ 1 + 3 − (2.5.19)
2r 2r
a3
" #
3a
qθ = −W sin θ 1 − 3 − (2.5.20)
4r 4r

2.5.1 Physical Deductions

1. Streamlines: With respect to the the equator along θ = π/2, cos θ and qr are odd while
sin θ and qθ are even. Hence the streamlines (velocity vectors) are symmetric fore and
aft.

2. Vorticity: !
1 ∂(rqθ ) 1 ∂qr 3 sin θ
ζ~ = ζφ~eφ = − ~eφ = − W a 2 ~eφ
r ∂r r ∂θ 2 r

3. Pressure : From the r-component of momentum equation

∂p µW a
= 3 cos θ(= −µ∇ × (∇ × ~q))
∂r r
Integrating with respect to r from r to ∞, we get
3 µW a
p = p∞ − cos θ (2.5.21)
2 r3

4. Stresses and strains:

3a3
!
1 ∂qr 3a
err = = W cos θ −
2 ∂r 2r2 2r4
On the sphere, r = a, err = 0 hence τrr = 0 and
3 µW
σrr = −p + τrr = −p∞ + cos θ (2.5.22)
2 a
On the other hand
∂ qθ 1 ∂qr 3 W a3
 
erθ = r + =− sin θ
∂r r r ∂θ 2 r4
Hence at r = a:
3 µW
σrθ = τrθ = µerθ = − sin θ (2.5.23)
2 a
 5

The resultant stress on the sphere is parallel to the z axis.

3 µW
Σz = σrr cos θ − τrθ sin θ = −p∞ cos θ +
2 a

The constant part exerts a net drag in z direction

Z 2π Z π 3 µW
D= adφ dθ sin θΣz == 4πa2 = 6πµW a (2.5.24)
o o 2 a
This is the celebrated Stokes formula.
A drag coefficient can be defined as
D 6πµW a 24 24
CD = 1 = 1 = ρW (2a)
= (2.5.25)
2
ρW 2 πa2 2
ρW 2 πa2 µ
Red

5. Fall velocity of a particle through a fluid. Equating the drag and the buoyant weight
of the eparticle
4π 3
6πµWo a = a (ρs − ρf )g
3
hence
a2 ∆ρ a2 ∆ρ
! !
2
Wo = g = 217.8
9 ν ρf ν ρf
in cgs units. For a sand grain in water,
∆ρ 2.5 − 1
= = 1.5, ν = 10−2 cm2 /s
ρf 1

Wo = 32, 670 a2 cm/s (2.5.26)

To have some quantitative ideas, let us consider two sand of two sizes :

a = 10−2 cm = 10−4 m : Wo = 3.27cm/s;

a = 10 cm = 10 = 10µm, Wo = 0.0327cm/s = 117cm/hr
−3 −5

For a water droplet in air,

∆ρ 1
= −3 = 103 , ν = 0.15 cm2 /sec
ρf 10

then
(217.8)103 2
Wo = a (2.5.27)
0.15
in cgs units. If a = 10−3 cm = 10µm, then Wo = 1.452 cm/sec.
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Details of derivation
Details of (2.5.11).
 
 ~
e ~eθ r sin θ~eφ 
1  ∂r
!
ψ ∂ ∂
~q = ∇ × ~eφ = 2 
r sin θ r sin θ  ∂r ∂θ ∂φ
 

0 0 ψ 

! !
1 ∂ψ 1 ∂ψ
= ~er 2
− ~eθ
r sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂r
Details of (2.5.12).
!
ψ~eφ
∇ × ~q = ∇ × ∇×
r sin θ
~er r~eθ r sin θ~eφ 
 

1  ∂ ∂ ∂
= 2

∂r ∂θ ∂φ
r sin θ 
 
1 ∂ψ −1 ∂ψ

r 2 sin θ ∂θ sin θ ∂r
0 
2
" !#
~eφ ∂ ψ sin θ ∂ 1 ∂ψ
= + 2
r sin θ ∂r2 r ∂θ sin θ ∂θ