A systematic calculation of micropolar fluid flows around a sphere and a cylinder is presented. The explicit velocity fields and the drag forces exerted by the fluid flow in both two and three dimensions are obtained. The solution of a steady micropolar fluid flow inside the cylinder is also obtained and is identical to the form observed in an experiment on granular vibrating beds.

• Received 13 September 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.61.5477