Visual observations of the flow past a sphere at Reynolds numbers between 104 and 106

Abstract

The wake configuration of a sphere has been determined by means of the surface oil-flow method, the smoke method and the tuft-grid method in a wind tunnel at Reynolds numbers ranging from 104 to 106. It was found that the wake performs a progressive wave motion at Reynolds numbers between 104 and 3·8 × 105, and that it forms a pair of stream wise line vortices at Reynolds numbers between 3·8 × 105 and 106.