This paper presents a computational study of the steady viscous flow of a f
luid over a spherical drop or bubble of another immiscible fluid. Numerical
solutions have been obtained for external Reynolds numbers up to 500. The
range of viscosity ratio is from 0.01 to 100.0. The density ratio varies be
tween the same limits. The finite difference method was employed to discret
ize the model equations. A nested DC algorithm solved the nonlinear algebra
ic systems. Flow separation, the effect of internal Re number on the flow p
attern and the computations of the drag coefficients are analysed. Vortex,
velocity and pressure distributions on the drop surface are presented. The
values obtained for drag coefficients are compared with the solutions provi
ded by published predictive equations. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All r
ights reserved.