  Hydrodynamic forces acting on a neutrally-buoyant spherical particle immersed
in a wall-bounded axisymmetric stagnation point flow (Hiemenz-Homann flow) are
predicted, based on a suitable form of the reciprocal theorem. An approximate
algebraic form of the undisturbed velocity field is set up, mimicking the
gradual transition of the actual carrying flow throughout the boundary layer,
from a pure linear straining flow in the bulk to a parabolic flow at the wall.
The particle Reynolds number is assumed to be small and predictions based on
the creeping-flow assumption are first derived. Then, inertial corrections are
computed, assuming that the particle stands close enough to the wall for the
latter to be in the inner region of the disturbance. Predictions for the
time-dependent slip velocity between the particle and ambient fluid are
obtained in the form of a differential equation, first assuming that the
particle moves along the flow symmetry axis, then extending the analysis to
particles released at an arbitrary radial position. In the former case, these
predictions are compared with results provided by numerical simulations. When
the strain-based Reynolds number (built on the particle radius and strain rate
in the bulk) exceeds $0.1$, finite-inertia effects due to particle-wall
interactions and to the relative acceleration between the particle and fluid
are found to substantially modify the way the slip velocity varies with the
distance to the wall.
