Fluid mechanics / drag & lift
 

Hi folks,

This may seem a bit basic, but how do you go about calculating drag and lift of a sphere in a Newtonian fluid? I know the equations for this, but I don't know the respective coefficients. Do the coefficients have to be determined experimentally for my particular setup? Can I use the standard drag curve using a particle reynolds number? If so, do I use the velocity which the particle is experiencing at that point, or the settling velocity? And how do I find the settling velocity? Are there any ways to calculate the lift coefficient without knowing the drag force? The more I look at this problem, it seems to me that some experimental results (e.g. drag/lift measurements, settling velocities) are needed to complete my calculations. Is this correct, or are there other ways?

Best Regards,

Jamcam