Analytic solutions for Stokes flow past a partially encapsulated droplet

The Stokes flow past the unusual geometry of two fused (overlapping) spheres, somewhat surprisingly, has an exact analytic solution, provided that the spheres intersect orthogonally. The problem of how past a partially encapsulated droplet is considered, to illustrate the basic idea. The simple nature of the analytical solution is of some interest in biophysical models of molecular assemblies involving a combination of stick and slip surfaces. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.