Low Reynolds Number Flow past a Body with Point Symmetry

Abstract

Low Reynolds number flow of an incompressible fluid past a body is studied by solving the Navier-Stokes equations, on the basis of the method of matched asymptotic expansions. It is shown that, when the shape of the body is symmetric with respect to a point, the force on the body is determined to the order of R_e²logR_e, where R_e denotes the Reynolds number, simply from a knowledge of the force on the body according to Stokes’ approximation.