A numerical study of steady incompressible Newtonian fluid flow over a disk at moderate Reynolds numbers

The hydrodynamic behaviour of a single thin disk settling steadily, broad f ace-wise, in an incompressible Newtonian fluid has been investigated by sol ving the Navier-Stokes equations numerically using an iterative procedure. The finite difference method has been used to map out the complete flow dom ain in terms of the values of the stream function and vorticity. Finally, t he drag coefficient was evaluated by considering the energy dissipation. Ex tensive results on drag for a disk of thickness to diameter ratio of 0.05 s how excellent agreement with the experimental, as well as, previous scant n umerical results in the range 1 less than or equal to Re less than or equal to 100.