Numerical Analysis of Low Reynolds Number Flow around a Sphere Immersed in a Uniform Stream

Abstract

In this report, the specification of the boundary conditions on the outer boundary surface is discussed in relation to the problem of the numerical solution of low Reynolds number flow around a three-dimensional body immersed in a uniform stream. All the numerical solutions of a flow around a sphere available in literatures assume uniform flow on the outer boundary. However, the authors' previous work which the dealt with two-dimensional flow suggests that boundary conditions which take into account the effects of wake of the body is indispensable, if small computational domain is employed. The present work extends the discussion to three-dimensional flows. It has been confirmed that a single Oseenlet in the direction of uniform flow is the most useful in the far field.