A Computational Algorithm for the Stokes Problem II. Application to the Erythrocyte

A numerical method for the single body Stokes problem was applied to bodies of revolution, with reflection symmetry. The erythrocyte is a special case of this shape. Drag factors were calculated for broadside and edgewise orientation. A series of dropping experiments was performed at Reynolds numbers from 10−4 to 10−1. Models of the erythrocyte and of both forms of spheroid were employed. Agreement between computation and experiment was to 5%, which was within the uncertainty of both techniques.