Transient settling of a dilute spherical suspension droplet at low Reynolds number

The transient settling in a viscous incompressible fluid of a spherical dilute cloud of particles starting from rest under the influence of a small constant applied force is studied in a continuum model on the basis of the linearized Navier-Stokes equations. Explicit expressions are derived for the motion of the cloud and for the flow velocity and pressure of the fluid. Equations of transient Stokesian dynamics are formulated that allow numerical study of the motion of a dilute cloud of particles of arbitrary initial configuration.