Numerical Solution of Laminar Boundary Layer Flow About a Rotating Sphere in an Axial Stream

Abstract

A finite-difference scheme is developed for solving the boundary layer equations governing the laminar flow about a rotating sphere which is subjected to a uniform stream in the direction of the axis of rotation. Numerical results are presented for the meridional and azimuthal velocities and for the wall-shear-stress components. Also, the angle at which the meridional velocity gradient normal to the wall vanishes is given at values of the parameter Ta/Re2 ranged from zero (the stationary sphere case) to 10000. As compared with the momentum integral technique of Schlichting [8], the present scheme succeeded in obtaining solutions for very considerably larger values of the parameter Ta/Re2 .