Fluid Dynamics of the Elliptic Porous Slider

Fluid cushioned porous sliders are useful in reducing the frictional resistance of moving objects. This paper studies the elliptic slider. After a transformation of variables, the Navier-Stokes equations reduce to a nonlinear two-point boundary-value problem. This boundary-value problem was solved by a homotopy-type method, which did not require a good initial approximation to the solution. The problem was solved for several Reynolds numbers and ellipse eccentricities. Lift and drag calculations show that an elliptic porous slider should be operated along the minor axis.