Interference drag between cylindrical particles in stokes flow

Abstract EN

In this study, the interference effects when two cylinders are placed in series or parallel in a low Reynolds number flow are predicted.

For two cylinders with their line of centers perpendicular to the flow, the drag force is lower than an isolated cylinder at small gaps but is greater at large gaps ; a maximum is found at a gap of approximately of 7 cylinder diameters.

For cylinders with their line of centers parallel to the flow, the drag on the trailing body is less than the leading body, which in turn is less than the drag on an isolated cylinder.