Experimental velocity profiles in laminar flow around spheres at intermediate Reynolds numbers

Abstract

Normal and tangential velocities in the boundary layer and out into the free stream have been obtained using a non-disturbing flow visualization technique for uniform laminar flow around a sphere. The non-similar data are available in tables at 2.5° intervals from 20° from the front to about 15° past the separation point a t Reynolds numbers of 290, 750, 1300 and 3000. Stream functions calculated by LeClair using a numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equation at Re 21 300 are not in good agreement with measured values from 30° to 60°, but are in much better agreement around the separation point. Too few grid points near the sphere where the tangential velocities rise to a maximum above free-stream values may account for the difference.