Hydrodynamics of deformable contiguous spherical shapes in an incompressible inviscid fluid

Summary An exact solution to the two-body interaction problem is presented for the case of spherical shapes moving in an incompressible and inviscid fluid. The spheres are assumed to translate in an arbitrary manner and to undergo radial deformation (or pulsation). The problem is formulated in terms of spherical harmonics and the force experienced by the spheres is obtained by employing the Lagally theorem. The expressions for the force are given as an infinite sum of coefficients which are found by solving an infinite set of linear equations. Three main geometries are considered, namely, two spheres exterior to each other, one sphere in the interior of the other and sphere in a rectangular channel. Numerical values for the added-mass coefficients as well as for the hydrodynamic forces are found for the case of rigid sphere moving toward or parallel to a rigid wall or a free surface, and a pulsating sphere in the proximity of these boundaries. Also given are numerical values for the transverse and the longitudinal addedmass coefficients for a sphere moving in a rectangular channel for different channel-blockage ratios.