Translational steady fall of symmetric bodies in a Navier-Stokes liquid, with application to particle sedimentation (Q5939521)

Let a homogeneous body \(B\) be falling with translational velocity \(u\) under the action of gravity in a quiescent liquid filling the domain \(\Omega=\mathbb R^3\setminus B\). The equations governing the motion are \[ \nu\Delta v+(u-v)\cdot\nabla v-\nabla p=g, \quad \text{div}\,v=0\quad\text{in }\Omega, \] \[ v=u \quad \text{on} \partial\Omega, \qquad \lim_{|x|\to\infty}v=0 \] \[ \int_{\partial\Omega}T(v,p)\cdot n \,dS=mg, \qquad\int_{\partial\Omega}x\times T(v,p)\cdot n \,dS=0. \] Here \(v(x)\) is the vector of velocity of the liquid, \(p(x)\) the pressure, \(g\) the gravity acceleration, \(m\) the mass of the body \(B\), \(n\) the unit normal to \(\partial\Omega\) oriented toward \(B\), \(\nu\) the coefficient of kinematic viscosity, \(T(v,p)\) the stress tensor. \(v,\;p,\;u\) and the orientation of \(g\) are unknown. The authors consider a particular class of symmetric bodies \(B\), constituted by homogeneous bodies of revolution around an axis \(a\) that possess the fore-and-aft symmetry. It is shown that there are only two possible orientations of \(B\), namely either parallel with \(a\) or perpendicular to \(g\). In either case \(u\) is directed along \(g\). Both these types of a motion are analysed for stability in Sobolev function spaces.