Axially symmetric potential flow around a slender body

Abstract

Axially symmetric potential flow about an axially symmetric rigid body is considered. The potential due to the body is represented as a superposition of potentials of point sources distributed along a segment of the axis inside the body. The source strength distribution satisfies a linear integral equation. A complete uniform asymptotic expansion of its solution is obtained with respect to the slenderness ratio ε^½, which is the maximum radius of the body divided by its length. The expansion contains integral powers of ε multiplied by powers of log ε. From it expansions of the potential, the virtual mass and the dipole moment of the body are obtained. The flow about the body in the presence of an axially symmetric stationary obstacle is also determined. The method of analysis involves a technique for the asymptotic solution of integral equations.