Chemical Engineering Science, 1968, Vol. 23, pp. 1293-1298.

Pergamon Press.

Printed in Great Britain.

A sphere in contact with a plane wall in a slow linear shear flow

M. E. ONEILL
Department of Mathematics, University College, London
(First received 12 January 1968; in revisedform 23 May 1968)
AbsWaet- An exact solution of the linearised Stokes flow equations is derived for a viscous flow about
a tixed sphere in contact with a flxed plane wall when the fluid motion in the absence of the sphere is
assumed to be a uniform linear shear flow. The values of the forces and couples which the fluid exerts
on both the sphere and the wall are determined explicitly.

1. INTRODUCTION
IN A RECENT
paper by Goldman, Cox and
Brenner [ 11, a method is described for determining the force and couple acting on a fixed sphere
of radius u at a distance h > a from a plane wall
in a viscous fluid whose motion in the absence of
the sphere would be a uniform linear shear flow;
it is shown that by a suitable quadrature scheme,
these quantities may be determined from the
corresponding quantities when the sphere either
translates or rotates uniformly in a fluid at rest,
the solutions to these latter problems having
been obtained by ONeill[2] and Dean and
ONeill[3] respectively.
In this paper an exact solution of the linearised
Stokes flow equations is derived for the case
when h = a and the sphere touches the wall by
making use of a coordinate system which permits
the solution to be represented in terms of Fourier
-Bessel
transforms.
Simple expressions
are_
derived for the forces and couples which the
shearing motion of the fluid exerts on the sphere
and the wall; the values of these quantities are
given explicitly.
2. STATEMENT

OF

THE

bounded by the sphere and the plane is supposed

to be in such a motion that in the absence of the
sphere, the velocity would have Cartesian compon ts U(Z,0,O) and the pressure constant which
mayejbe taken as zero without any loss of generality. We shall further suppose that the fluid is
incompressible,
has a constant density p and
viscosity cr.and that the Reynolds number up/p
is sufficiently small to permit the neglect of the
inertia terms in the Navier-Stokes
equations.
The equations governing the fluid motion are
therefore

PROBLEM

It is supposed that a fixed rigid sphere of

radius a is in contact with a fixed rigid plane
which is given by z. = 0 in a system of Cartesian
coordinates (ax, uy, az) in which the origin is at
the point of contact as is depicted in Fig. 1. The
fluid which is

Vp = pV2V,

Vol. 23 No. I1 -A

div V = 0,

(2.1)

where p is the hydrodynamic fluid pressure and

V the velocity. On expressing the components of
V in cylindrical polar coordinates (ar, 8, az) in the
form u{(U+z) cos 8, (V-z) sin 0, W cos 0)

1293

C.E.S.

OX

Fig. 1.

M. E. ONEILL

where U, V and W are functions of r, z only,

the boundary conditions to be satisfied are

and
4+zQ=x+rQ=O,JI+rQ=-22,

((=I).
(3.3)

U= V= W=Oontheplane,

(2.2)

U = -V = -z, W = 0 on the sphere,

(2.3)

U,V,W*Oasz+w

(2.4)

The first of Eqs. (2.1) -the equation of momentum-is satisfied when P, U, V and W are of the
form
up=2~UQcos&
V=Hx-$J),

U=rQ+&<x+$),

(2.5)

W=zQ+&

(2.6)

where JI, x, 6 and Q are functions of r and z only

satisfying
L,,2JI= L22x = L12d,= L12Q = 0;

(2.7)

the operator L,,,2is defined by

a2 1 a

L, = ~+T~-~+~

m2

withm=O,lor2.
The equation of continuity
fied if
[

a2

(2.8)

div V = 0 is satis-

3+r$+z;]Q+;[$+($+;),+2~]

=O.

(2.9)
3. SOLUTION

OF THE

PROBLEM

To facilitate the solution of this problem it is

useful to introduce coordinates e, 77 defined by
the relations
r= 2q/([2+r12),

z= 25/(e2+v2).

(3.1)

The plane is now given by 6 = 0, the sphere by

[=l,theoriginr=z=Obyr)=mandinfinity
bye=q=O.
The boundary conditions (2.2) to (2.4) may
now be written as
++zQ=x+rQ=$+rQ=O,(S=O>,

It may be shown that a solution of the equation

Lm2f= 0 in terms of the t,q coordinates which is
bounded at 5 = q= 0 is given by
f=

(e+n2)l12

I,m{&(s) sinhst+g(s)

coshst}
XJ*(sq) ds,

where d(s)
and 9 (s) are functions of s for
which the integral is proper. The first of Eq. (3.2)
suggests that a suitable form of solution for t#~is
+=

(g+q2)lj2

jomA

sinhstJ,(sr))ds,

(3.4)

where A (s) is such that the integral representation is proper. This will be so if s2A is bounded at
s = 0 and A is exponentially
small for large
values of s.
Suitable forms of solution for Q, Ji and x are
given by
Q = ~(P+T-/~)~~ jorn [B(s) cash st+C(s)
sinh s~]J,(sr)) ds,
I,IJ= (e+q2)12

(3.5)

km [D(s) coshs.$+E(s)
sinh st] J,(sq) ds,

(3.6)

x = (.$2+~2)12 Iorn[F(s) cos se+ G(s)

sinh $1 .I2(~77)ds,

(3.7)

where again it is presumed that the integral

representations
are proper.
The boundary condition given by the first of
Eq. (3.2) has already been used in the construction of 4 given by (3.4) but a further relation
between Q and 4 on e = 0 may be obtained from
the equation of continuity which requires that
aW/&Z = 0 on the plane. This gives the relation

QUA rl) =

-~~e_,
=-lim$.

(3.8)

and with r#~given by (3.4), (3.8) gives

(3.2)
1294

I3 = sA+A -A/S,

(3.9)

A sphere in contact with a plane wall in a slow linear shear flow

the prime denoting differentiation with respect

to s. The function C is expressed in terms of A
by means of the first of Eqs. (3.3) which implies
that
I ,,mLB cash s + C sinh s] J1 (ST) ds
+(1+$)

f;A

sinh sJ1(sq) ds = 0.
(3.10)

= (e + q2) l/2 Jam{ (+sF + 2F + F/s - *SD

--A-A+A/s)

Consequently

in view of (3.9) we obtain

-3sE)

c = [SA --A]K

(3.11)

K = s-l - coth s.

(3.12)

where
The functions D, E, F and G can also be expressed in terms of A by means of the second
and third of each of the sets of Eq. (3.2) and (3.3)
together with the relation
(1 +

q2)-3/2 = JornsePsJO(sn) ds.

We find that
D = sA+A,

(3.13)

E=sAK-4s(coths-l),

(3.14)

F=A-sA,

(3.15)

G = [2A --sA]K.

(3.16)

It will be noticed that for (3.5), (3.6) and (3.7) to

be proper with B, C, D, E, F and G given by
(3.9), (3.11) and (3.13) to (3.16) imposes a
further restriction on the permissible behaviour
of A for small s, namely that sA must be bounded
ats = 0.
To determine A we now make use of the
equation of continuity (2.9) which is the only
equation governing the motion which has not
been used. It can be shown that with Q, JI, x and
4 constructed in the manner described above,

3+rz+r;

Q=

= +(t+q)

f; { (3B+sB)

coshse

+ (3C+sC)

sinhst}J1(sq)

ds,

sinhsg}J1(sq)

(jG+2G+G/s
(3.18)

ds.

It will be seen that the equation of continuity

of the form
([2+q2)12 fern{h(s) coshst+&s)

is

sinhst}
J1(s7)) ds = 0,

where X(s) involves only the functions A, B, D

and F and p(s) involves only the functions C,
E and G. However use has already been made of
the equation of continuity when z = 0 and so
when e = 0. Consequently h(s) = 0 as may be
verified if B, D and F are substituted from (3.9),
(3.13) and (3.15). Thus for the eqtiation of continuity to be satisfied at all points of the fluid,
it follows that p(s) = 0 which gives, after C, E
and G are substituted in terms of A from (3.11),
(3.14) and (3.16), the ordinary
differential
equation for A:
sKA + SA [s2K+ 3sK + 2K]
-A [s2K + 4sK + 2K]
= 2s2[2x -t-sir],

(3.19)

where X = coth s - 1. The solution to (3.19) which

we seek must be such that SA is bounded at
s = 0 and must decay to zero exponentially as
s tends to infinity. It has not been possible to find
the solution in a closed form. However, if AI,
An, and Am denote respectively the particular
integral and complementary function solutions of
(3.19) for small values of s, it may be shown that

3-+;

cash@+

AI = 4s+O(s3),
An = ~~lO-~[l +O(s2)],
(3.17)
1295

AIlI = ~-~lO-~[l +O(s2)].

M. E. DNEILL

The solution Ain may therefore be rejected in

view of the permissible asymptotic behaviour of
A for small s. It may further be shown that if Al,
AZ and A3 denote respectively
the particular
integral and complementary
function solutions
for large values of s , then
A1 =#e-28[4s3-332]

+O(s5e-&),

AZ= l-2s+O(se+),
A3 = e-a+O(s2e-b).
Equation (3.19) was integrated twice numerically
for values of s up to 5.6; the first time using the
expansion of A, for the starting values and the
second time using the expansion of Ai1 for the
starting values with the right hand side of (3.19)
set equal to zero. The solution of the problem
under discussion is then found by choosing that
linear combination of the two numerical solutions
which
-ge-ti[4s3-3S2]

+O(e+)

for large values of s. The numerical values of this

solution were tabulated to an accuracy of six
decimal places in the range of s

F, =

hpuaf,

F, = F, = 0,

where
-6f=l{[2n-(2F-$)]sinP
+[($J-!.$+?I

,,S]

sin/3d/3;

the angle r-/3 being that between the radius

vector to a surface element of the sphere from
its centre and the positive z-axis, and the integrand is evaluated on the sphere. In terms of the
6, r) coordinates,

_-?!L cosB=

smP = l+$

I-

2
I+$

d/3=-&$.
By means of these relations together with those
which express alar,
alazin terms of alat and
a/as, it may be established that when U, V and
W are given by Eqs. (2.5) and (2.6), the above
expression forf may be reduced to

0(0.05)2.0(0.1)5.6,
Equation (4.1) may easily be shown to reduce to
and in Table 1 the values of A for some of the
values of s in this range are displayed.

4. THE

A
0.452299
O-455760
O-454209
0.397087
0.303267
0.210079
o-134406
O-080380
o-045411
0.005465

040

0.0

040

O-05
0.10
o-15
0.20
O-30
040
0.50
O-60
0.70

O-089520
O-152770
0*204020
0.246958
0.314711
0.364484
0400686
0.426129
0.442827

0.90
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3-00
3.50
4.00
5.60

FORCES
AND COUPLES
THE SPHERE
AND THE

ACTING
PLANE

1) -sWK}

when Q and + are as constructed

making use of the relations

Table 1
s

3f = km {4s(coths-

ds,

(4.2)

in Section 3 and

On evaluation, Eq. (4.2) is found to give

f = 1.7009.

ON

The Cartesian components (F,, F,, F,) of the

force exerted by the fluid on the sphere are

The force which is exerted

(hpuaj, O,O), where

1296

(4.5)
on the plane is

A sphere in contact with a plane wall in a slow linear shear flow

which on substitution
can be shown to give

of Q and I/Jfrom Section 3

3!= km {sZAK-44s(coths-

1)d.r.

(4.7)

Thus the forces on the sphere and the plane are

equal and opposite. We may similarly prove that
the couples which act on the sphere and the plane
are also equal and opposite. When moments of
the surface stresses are taken about the centre of
the sphere, it is found that the couple acting on
the sphere has Cartesian
components
(0,
-8rrpua2g, 0), where

[(l-~')Jr-2~(Q+9)1}~=~~,

f=

of Q, #J and

kwsAds,

(4.9)

and on evaluation, Eq. (4.9) gives

g = 0.943993.

1.7005,

(4.10)

The determination
of the values for f and g
given by (4.5) and (4.10) respectively is effected
by using the numerical solution for A in the
range 0 s s d 5.6 and the asymptotic expansion
of A for large values of s up to and including
the terms involving e+ for the range s 5 5.6.
Numerical values of the force and couple
acting on a stationary sphere not in contact
with a plane wall in a linear shear flow have
been obtained for a range of values of h/a 3
1%I3202 where h is the distance of the sphere

NOTATION

REFERENCES

1963 10 13.

1297

radius of sphere
functions of parameter s
dimensionless coefficient of force
acting on sphere
dimensionless coefficient of force
acting on plane
Cartesian
components
of force
acting on the sphere
dimensionless component of couple
acting on sphere
Bessel function of order n
S---0th s
hydrodynamic fluid pressure
pressure function defined in (2.5)
dimensionless
cylindrical
polar
coordinates
variable of integration
functions of r,z
rate of shear at infinity
fluid velocity
dimensionless
Cartesian coordinates
coefficient of viscosity
coordinates defined in (3.1)
density of fluid
velocity
functions
defined
in
(2.5) and (2.6)

[ 11 GOLDMAN A. J., COX R. G. and BRENNER H., Chem. Engng Sci. 1967 22 653.
[21 ONEILL M. E., Marhematika 1964 1167.
131 DEAN W. R. and ONEILL M. E., Mathemarika

g = 094399,

which shows remarkable agreement with the

values given by (4.5) and (4.10) using the exact
solution derived in this paper.

(4.8)

which simplifies after substitution

VJto
4g=-3f-4

centre from the plane, by Goldman, Cox and

Brenner [ l] who didnot solve the problem directly but adopted a quadrature scheme using the
solutions obtained by ONeill[2] and Dean and
ONeill[3] for the translation or rotation of a
sphere in the presence of a plane. Goldman,
Cox and Brenner [ l] extrapolated their numerical data to obtain

hf. E. ONEILL
R4smn& Une solution exacte des equations lin&uis6es decoulement de Stokes est dcrivee pour un
6coulement visqueux autour dune sphere tixe en contact avec une paroi plane fixe quand, en labsence
de la sphere, on considere que le mouvement du fluide est un dcoulement de dechirement tin&ire
uniforme. Les valeurs des forces et des couples que le fluide exerce sur la sphere et la paroi ?Ila fois
sont d&ermines explicitement.

ZrwmmenfaesungEs wird eine priizise Ldsung der linearisierten Stokeschen Strijmungsgleichungen

ftir viskosen Fluss urn eine feststehende Kugel, die mit einer feststehenden ebenen Wand in Beriihrung ist, abgeleitet; dabei wird von der Annahme ausgegangen, dass die Bewegung der Fliissigkeit
ohne die Kugel einer gleichmiissigen linearen Scherstrijmung entspricht. Die Werte der Kr%fte und
Momente, die die Fltissigkeit auf die Kugel und die Wand austibt, werden genau bestimmt.

1298