Free surface Stokes flows obstructed by multiple obstacles

Gravity‐driven Stokes flow down an inclined plane over and around multiple obstacles is considered. The flow problem is formulated in terms of a boundary integral equation and solved using the boundary element method. A Hermitian radial basis function (RBF) is used for the interpolation of the free surface, generation of the unit normal and curvature, and to prescribe the far‐field conditions. For flow over an obstacle, hemispheres are taken. For flow around an obstacle, circular cylinders are modelled and the contact angle condition on the obstacle/free surface intersection specified using the RBF formulation. Explicit profiles are produced for flow over and around two obstacles placed in various locations relative to one another. Interaction due to two obstacles is given by comparisons made with the profiles for flow over and around individual obstacles. In general, when the obstacles are separated by a sufficiently large distance the flow profiles are identical to a single obstacle analysis. For flow over and around two obstacles in‐line with the incident flow, effects of the governing parameters are examined, with variations in plane inclination angle, Bond number, obstacle size, and in the case of obstacles intersecting the free surface, static contact angle is considered. Finally flows over and around three obstacles are modelled. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.