Interaction of two spherical particles in a steady flow of viscous fluid when the Reynolds number is not small

Abstract

The problem of the interaction of two or more particles moving in a viscous incompressible fluid at small Reynolds numbers (Re ≪ 1) has been well studied. The linearity of the Stokes equations makes it possible to develop effective methods of solution of the problem for two and many particles [1]. If the Reynolds number is not small, the inertia forces in the Navier-Stokes equations cannot be ignored, and the problem becomes nonlinear, i.e., much more complicated. The present note is devoted to the problem of the interaction of two spherical particles in a steady uniform flow of a viscous incompressible fluid when the Reynolds number is not small. Asymptotic expressions are obtained for the interaction forces between the particles when the distances between them are large compared with their radius.