Drag on disks

R. Shankar Subramanian
Clift, Grace, and Weber (Bubbles, Drops, and Particles, Academic Press, 1978) provide
correlations based on experimental data that can be used to calculate the drag coefficient
on a disk moving parallel to its axis over a limited range of values of the Reynolds
number. I have reproduced their results below for your use.
The definitions of the Reynolds number and the drag coefficient are given below.

d eV

Re =

CD =
Here,

2D
a 2V 2

is the velocity of the disk,

is the density of the fluid, and

is its viscosity.

The symbol D stands for the drag on the sphere. The radius of the disk is
thickness is H , leading to the following result for the equivalent diameter d e .

d e = ( 6a H )
2

a and

its

1
3

Drag Coefficient
For

Re 0.01 ,

CD =

64 Re
1+
Re 2

For

0.01 < Re 1.5 ,

CD =

64
1 + 10 x )
(
Re

x = 0.883 + 0.906log10 Re 0.025(log10 Re) 2

where
For 1.5 < Re 133 ,

CD =

64
1 + 0.138Re0.792
Re

Clift, Grace, and Weber state that when vortex shedding begins,
to

Re ,

and is constant at a value of

1.17

for

CD becomes insensitive

Re > 1,000 ,

and that there is some

CD passes through a minimum of about 1.03 for Re  400 . But the

authors go on to state that most data are correlated within 10% by the result valid for
1.5 < Re 133 , with CD = 1.17 for Re > 133 .
indication that

Terminal Settling Velocity

From page 148-149, we learn that a disk in free motion will move steadily with its axis
vertical so long as ReT (meaning the Reynolds number at terminal settling velocity)

satisfies 0.1 < ReT < 100 . For calculating the terminal settling velocity in this range
of values of the Reynolds number, the drag coefficient correlations given earlier can be
used iteratively. The steady motion gives way to more complicated tumbling motion for
ReT > 100 , even though the steady motion persists to higher ReT up to about 172
when the moment of inertia of the disk is relatively small. It appears that a parameter
1
3

CD Re is used to characterize transition to various regimes of unsteady motion of

2
T

the settling disk.

Apparently, when the transition from steady to unsteady motion occurs, a disk executes
regular oscillations about a diameter as it settles. At larger

1
3,

CD Re the amplitude
2
T

of the oscillation increases and the disk moves in a succession of curved arcs, a motion
1

2
called glide-tumble. At even higher CD ReT 3 , the disk executes a tumbling motion,

rotating continually about a diameter and following a trajectory that is nearly rectilinear,
but not vertical.
When the disk executes unsteady motion, the drag correlations for steady drag
cannot be used. More information regarding this situation can be found in page 149 of
the book by Clift, Grace, and Weber.