Rotational friction coefficients for ellipsoids and chemical molecules with the slip boundary condition

Abstract

Friction coefficients are calculated numerically for ellipsoids rotating about their principal axes and for a benzene molecule rotating normal to its axis of symmetry under conditions of creeping flow and slip boundary conditions. It has been shown previously, that if a benzene molecule is approximated by an oblate spheroid, the predicted and experimental friction coefficients differ by more than 40%. The present study employs a more realistic shape for benzene and finds a difference of 10%, which is within the limits of the numerical and experimental uncertainty.