Stokes flow past a smooth cylinder

Summary Ranger's solution of the two-dimensional Stokes flow past a smooth body is analyzed in detail. The body can be made convex or concave depending on the choice of its two parameters and concavity is found to be necessary but not sufficient for separation to occur. A relationship exists between the formation of a Stokesian wake and the curvature at the concave end of the body. Particular attention is given to the case when the body degenerates to a circular arc. The two-dimensional Stokes flow past a circular arc is strikingly similar to the axisymmetric Stokes flow past a spherical cap.