Axisymmertic Stokes flow images in spherical free surfaces with applications to rising bubbles

Abstract

AbstractA theorem is derived for the hydrodynanuc image of an axially symmetric slow viscous (Stokes) flow in a sphere which is impermeable and free of shear stress. A second theorem establishes a sense in which such a flow past an arbitrary rigid surface or shear-free sphere becomes, on inversion in an arbitrary sphere with its centre on the axis of symmetry, a flow past the rigid or shear-free inverse of that surface or sphere.The theorems are used to simplify the proofs of a number of known results for images of point singularities in plane and spherical rigid and free boundaries, and for a pair of bubbles rising steadily in line in a viscous fluid. They also give for the first time accurate numerical solutions for the velocities of each of a larger number of spherical bubbles rising quasi-steadily in line. These enable one to assess the accuracy of simple approximations to those velocities.