Numerical study of steady flow past spheroids

Abstract

Numerical methods have been used to investigate the steady incompressible flow past oblate and prolate spheroids for Reynolds numbers up to 100. The ratio of minor to major axis of the spheroids investigated were 0·9, 0·5 and 0·2, together with 1·0, which represents the limiting case of a sphere. The pressure distribution and the skin and form drag coefficients were numerically evaluated for the various Reynolds numbers. Streamlines, equi-vorticity lines and equivelocity lines are presented and show in detail the flow characteristics.