Axisymmetric Stokes flow past a spherical cap

Abstract

The axisymmetric streaming Stokes flow past a body which contains a surface concave to the fluid is considered for the simplest geometry, namely, a spherical cap. It is found that a vortex ring is attached to the concave surface of the cap regardless of whether the oncoming flow is positive or negative. A stream surface ψ = 0 divides the vortex from the mainstream flow, and a detailed description of the flow is given for the hemispherical cup. The local velocity and stress in the vicinity of the rim are expressed in terms of local co-ordinates.