On the derivation of a Stokes-Brinkman problem from Stokes equations around a random array of moving spheres (Q2288116)

The mesoscopic models for the motion of a cloud of solid particles in a viscous fluid is studied in detail. The authors consider a set of \(N\) randomly arranged spheres of radius \(1/N\) and centers \(x_1^N,x_2^N,\dots,x_N^N\) in the space \(\mathbb{R}^3\). The velocity \(u\) and the pressure \(p\) of the fluid satisfy in the perforated domain \(F^N\) the Stokes equations \[ \begin{array}{c} -\Delta u+\nabla p=0,\quad \mbox{div}\,u=0,\quad x\in F^N,\vphantom{\frac{I}{\frac{I}{\frac{I}{I}}}}\\ u=V_i^N,\quad x\in\partial B_i^N,\ i=1,2,\dots,N,\quad \lim\limits_{|x|\rightarrow\infty}|u(x)|=0. \end{array} \] Here \(B_i^N=\{y\in \mathbb{R}^3:|y-x_i^N|<1/N\}\), \(F^N=\mathbb{R}^3\setminus\bigcup\limits_{i=1}^N B_i^N\), \(V_i^N\) are given functions. It is assumed that the centers \(\{x_1^N,x_2^N,\dots,x_N^N\}\) are distributed chaotically. \par The authors compute the asymptotic behavior of solutions when the parameter \(N\) tends to infinity. Namely, the solutions to the Stokes problem converge in mean to the solution of a Stokes-Brinkman problem: \[ \begin{array}{c} -\Delta \tilde{u}+\nabla \tilde{p}+6\pi\rho\tilde{u}=6\pi j,\quad \mbox{div}\,\tilde{u}=0\quad x\in \mathbb{R}^3, \vphantom{\frac{I}{\frac{I}{\frac{I}{I}}}}\\ \lim\limits_{|x|\rightarrow\infty}|\tilde{u}(x)|=0 \end{array} \] with suitable flux \(j\) and density \(\rho\).