Fluid &Particle Mechanics

Dr C. Mangwandi

MOTION OF SINGLE PARTICLE

IN FLUID

Outline
Drag Forces
Drag Coefficient
Terminal Velocity

Drag Force: Stokes Law

Consider a spherical particle of diameter x in a fluid of
viscosity m. The relative velocity between fluid and
particle is U
There exist a force which resist steady relative motion
between the particle and the fluid. This force is called drag
force.
According to Stokes, 1851 the force is composed of two
components:
(4.1)
Fp 2 xm U
1. Pressure drag force
Fs xm U
(4.2)
2. Shear drag force
Total drag force is
(4.3)

FD 3 xm U

Stokes Law

The Stokes law hold

Re p 0.1 exactly
Re p 0.3 1%
Re p 0.5 3%
Re p 1.0 9%

Re p

xU f

(4.4)

Drag Coefficient

The drag coefficient is defined as;

R
CD 1
2

U
f
2

(4.5)

R is the force per unit projected area of the particle.

For a sphere

FD
2
1

x
4

(4.6)

The drag coefficient becomes;

24
CD
Re p

(4.7)

Drag Coefficient

Different correlations are given for different range of

Rep

Re24p
Re p 0.3
24
C D Re p 0.44 0.3 Re p 500
5
0.44
500

Re

10
p

Stokes
Intermediate(4.8)
Newtons Law

An alternative equation for Cd in the intermediate

region is;

24
CD
1 0.15 Re 0p.687
Re p

(4.9)

Standard Drag curve for motion of

sphere in fluid

Terminal Velocity
Buoyancy

Drag

Gravity

Consider a particle in relative

motion in a fluid of density f under
gravity. Let the density of the
particle be and its diameter be x.
In general three forces act on the
particle;
1.
2.
3.

Gravity, Fg
Buoyancy Fb
Drag Fdr

Terminal Velocity
The net dynamic force, Fnd acting on
the particle will resultant of the
three forces;

Buoyancy

Drag

Fnd Fg Fb Fdr

(4.10)

For a spherical particle;

ma

x 3

x 3

Gravity

x 3
6

pg

x 3

pg

x 3

f g R'

x 2

f g R'

x 2

g p f g C

1
D 2

(4.11)

fU

4
2 x 2
T 4

(4.12)

(4.13)

Terminal Velocity
0
Buoyancy

x 3
6

g p f g C

1
D 2

fU

2 x 2
T 4

(4.14)

Drag Under terminal velocity condition the

drag coefficient is given by;

4 gx
CD
3 U T2

(4.15)

In the Stokes region CD is given by

(4.7)
24
CD

Gravity

p f

Re p

(4.7)

The single particle terminal velocity

UT

x 2 p f g
18m

(4.16)