Fluid Mechanics I

Dr. Adil Loya

Associate Professor

Dimensional Analysis and

Similitude
 Main Topics

• Nature of Dimensional Analysis

• Buckingham Pi Theorem
• Significant Dimensionless Groups in
Fluid Mechanics
• Flow Similarity and Model Studies
 Objectives
1. Understand dimensions, units, and
dimensional homogeneity
2. Understand benefits of dimensional analysis
3. Know how to use the method of repeating
variables
4. Understand the concept of similarity and
how to apply it to experimental modeling
 Dimensions and Units
• Review
– Dimension: Measure of a physical quantity, e.g., length,
time, mass
– Units: Assignment of a number to a dimension, e.g., (m),
(sec), (kg)
– 7 Primary Dimensions:
1. Mass m (kg)
2. Length L (m)
3. Time t (sec)
4. Temperature T (K)
5. Current I (A)
6. Amount of Light C (cd)
7. Amount of matter N (mol)
 Dimensions and Units
– All non-primary dimensions can be formed
by a combination of the 7 primary
dimensions
– Examples
• {Velocity} m/sec = {Length/Time} = {L/t}
• {Force} N = {Mass Length/Time} = {mL/t2}
 Dimensional analysis
• Definition : Dimensional analysis is a process of formulating fluid mechanics problems in
in terms of non-dimensional variables and parameters.
• Why is it used :
• Reduction in variables ( If F(A1, A2, … , An) = 0, then f(1, 2, … r < n) = 0,
where, F = functional form, Ai = dimensional variables, j = non-dimensional
parameters, m = number of important dimensions, n = number of dimensional variables, r
= n – m ). Thereby the number of experiments required to determine f vs. F is reduced.
• Helps in understanding physics
• Useful in data analysis and modeling
• Enables scaling of different physical dimensions and fluid properties
Example Drag = f(V, L, r, m, c, t, e, T, etc.)
From dimensional analysis,

Examples of dimensionless quantities : Reynolds number, Froude

Vortex shedding behind cylinder
Number, Strouhal number, Euler number, etc.
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 Similarity and model testing
• Definition : Flow conditions for a model test are completely similar if all relevant
dimensionless parameters have the same corresponding values for model and prototype.
• i model = i prototype i = 1
• Enables extrapolation from model to full scale
• However, complete similarity usually not possible. Therefore, often it is necessary to
use Re, or Fr, or Ma scaling, i.e., select most important  and accommodate others
as best possible.
• Types of similarity:
• Geometric Similarity : all body dimensions in all three coordinates have the same
linear-scale ratios.
• Kinematic Similarity : homologous (same relative position) particles lie at homologous
points at homologous times.
• Dynamic Similarity : in addition to the requirements for kinematic similarity the model
and prototype forces must be in a constant ratio.

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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity
• Geometric Similarity - the model must be the
same shape as the prototype. Each dimension
must be scaled by the same factor.
• Kinematic Similarity - velocity as any point
in the model must be proportional
• Dynamic Similarity - all forces in the model
flow scale by a constant factor to
corresponding forces in the prototype flow.
• Complete Similarity is achieved only if all 3
conditions are met.
 Dimensional Homogeneity
• Every additive term in an equation must have the same
dimensions
• Example: Bernoulli equation

– {p} = {force/area}={mass x length/time x 1/length2} = {m/(t2L)}

– {1/2V2} = {mass/length3 x (length/time)2} = {m/(t2L)}
– {gz} = {mass/length3 x length/time2 x length} ={m/(t2L)}
 Nondimensionalization of Equations
• To nondimensionalize, for example, the Bernoulli
equation, the first step is to list primary dimensions
of all dimensional variables and constants

{p} = {m/(t2L)} {} = {m/L3} {V} = {L/t}

{g} = {L/t2} {z} = {L}

– Next, we need to select Scaling Parameters. For this

example, select L, U0, 0
Nature of Dimensional Analysis
Example: Drag on a Sphere

✓ Drag depends on FOUR parameters:

sphere size (D); speed (V); fluid density (); fluid
viscosity ()
✓ Difficult to know how to set up experiments to
determine dependencies
✓ Difficult to know how to present results (four
graphs?)
Nature of Dimensional Analysis
Example: Drag on a Sphere

✓ Only one dependent and one independent

variable
✓ Easy to set up experiments to determine
dependency
✓ Easy to present results (one graph)
Nature of Dimensional Analysis
 Buckingham Pi Theorem
Buckingham’s Pi Theorem
(1) If a problem involves n relevant variables m
independent dimensions then it can be reduced to
a relationship between n – m non-dimensional
parameters Π1, ..., Πn-m.
(2) To construct these non-dimensional Π groups: (i)
Choose m dimensionally-distinct scaling variables
(aka repeating variables). (ii) For each of the n – m
remaining variables construct a non-dimensional
Π of the form Π= (variable)*[(scale1 )^a]*[(scale2
)^b]*[(scale3 )^c] where a, b, c, ... are chosen so
as to make each Π non-dimensional.
 Buckingham Pi Theorem
• Step 1:
List all the parameters involved
Let n be the number of parameters
Example: For drag on a sphere, F, V, D, , ,
& n=5
• Step 2:
Select a set of primary dimensions
For example M (kg), L (m), t (sec).
Example: For drag on a sphere choose MLt
 Buckingham Pi Theorem
• Step 3
List the dimensions of all parameters
Let r be the number of primary dimensions

Example: For drag on a sphere r = 3

 Buckingham Pi Theorem

• Step 4
Select a set of r dimensional parameters that
includes all the primary dimensions

Example: For drag on a sphere (m = r = 3)

select ϱ, V, D
 Buckingham Pi Theorem
M a +1 Lb + c −3a +1t − b − 2 = M 0 L0t 0
• Step 5 a +1 = 0
Set up dimensionless groups πs b + c − 3a + 1 = 0
There will be n – m equations −b − 2 = 0
Example: For drag on a sphere  b = −2
c = 2
and  a = −1

  −1V −2 D −2 F
 Buckingham Pi Theorem
• Step 6
Check to see that each group obtained is dimensionless
Example: For drag on a sphere

Π2 = Re = ϱVD / μ

Π2
 Significant Dimensionless Groups in
Fluid Mechanics

• Reynolds Number

✓Mach Number
 Significant Dimensionless Groups in
Fluid Mechanics

• Froude Number

✓Weber Number
 Significant Dimensionless Groups in
Fluid Mechanics

• Euler Number

✓Cavitation Number
Dimensional Analysis and Similarity
• Complete similarity is ensured if all independent 
groups are the same between model and prototype.
• What is ?
– We let uppercase Greek letter  denote a nondimensional
parameter, e.g.,Reynolds number Re, Froude number Fr,
Drag coefficient, CD, etc.

• Consider automobile experiment

• Drag force is F = f(V,  , L)
• Through dimensional analysis, we can
reduce the problem to
Flow Similarity and Model Studies
• Example: Drag on a Sphere
 Similitude-Type of Similarities
• Geometric Similarity: is the similarity of shape.

Lp Bp Dp
= = = Lr
Lm Bm Dm

◼ Where: Lp, Bp and Dp are Length, Breadth, and diameter of

prototype and Lm, Bm, Dm are Length, Breadth, and
diameter of model.
◼ Lr= Scale ratio
 Similitude-Type of Similarities
• Kinematic Similarity: is the similarity of motion.

V p1 Vp 2 a p1 ap2
= = Vr ; = = ar
Vm1 Vm 2 am1 am 2

◼ Where: Vp1& Vp2 and ap1 & ap2 are velocity and
accelerations at point 1 & 2 in prototype and Vm1& Vm2 and
am1 & am2 are velocity and accelerations at point 1 & 2 in
model.
◼ Vr and ar are the velocity ratio and acceleration ratio
Flow Similarity and Model Studies
• Example: Drag on a Sphere
For dynamic similarity …

… then …
 Similitude-Type of Similarities
• Dynamic Similarity: is the similarity of forces.

( Fi ) p ( Fv ) p ( Fg ) p
= = = Fr
( Fi )m ( Fv )m ( Fg )m
◼ Where: (Fi)p, (Fv)p and (Fg)p are inertia, viscous and
gravitational forces in prototype and (Fi)m, (Fv)m and (Fg)m
are inertia, viscous and gravitational forces in model.
◼ Fr is the Force ratio
 Flow Similarity and Model Studies
• Scaling with Multiple Dependent Parameters

Example: Centrifugal Pump

Pump Head

Pump Power
 Flow Similarity and Model Studies
• Scaling with Multiple Dependent Parameters

Example: Centrifugal Pump

Head Coefficient

Power Coefficient
 Flow Similarity and Model Studies
• Scaling with Multiple Dependent Parameters
Example: Centrifugal Pump
(Negligible Viscous Effects)

If … … then …
 Types of forces encountered in fluid Phenomenon
• Inertia Force, Fi: = mass X acceleration in the flowing fluid.

• Viscous Force, Fv: = shear stress due to viscosity X surface

area of flow.

• Gravity Force, Fg: = mass X acceleration due to gravity.

• Pressure Force, Fp: = pressure intensity X C.S. area of flowing

fluid.
 Dimensionless Numbers
• These are numbers which are obtained by dividing the
inertia force by viscous force or gravity force or pressure
force or surface tension force or elastic force.

• As this is ratio of one force to other, it will be a

dimensionless number. These are also called non-
dimensional parameters.

• The following are most important dimensionless numbers.

– Reynold’s Number
– Froude’s Number
– Euler’s Number
– Mach’s Number
 Dimensionless Numbers
• Reynold’s Number, Re: It is the ratio of inertia force to the viscous force of flowing
fluid.
Velocity Volume
Fi
Mass.  . Velocity
Re = = Time = Time
Fv Shear Stress. Area Shear Stress. Area
 Q.V  AV .V  AV .V VL VL
= = = = =
 .A du
 .A  .A
V  
dy L
◼ Froude’s Number, Fe: It is the ratio of inertia force to the gravity
force of flowing fluid.
Velocity Volume
Fi
Mass.  . Velocity
Fe = = Time = Time
Fg Mass. Gavitational Acceleraion Mass. Gavitational Acceleraion
 QV
. AV .V V2 V
= = = =
Volume.g  AL.g gL gL
 Dimensionless Numbers
• Eulers’s Number, Re: It is the ratio of inertia force to the pressure force
of flowing fluid.
Velocity Volume
Fi
Mass.  . Velocity
Eu = = Time = Time
Fp Pr essure. Area Pr essure. Area
 QV
.  AV .V V2 V
= = = =
P. A P. A P/ P/

•Mach’s Number, Re: It is the ratio of inertia force to the

elastic force of flowing fluid.
Velocity Volume
Fi
Mass.  . Velocity
M = = Time = Time
Fe Elastic Stress. Area Elastic Stress. Area
 Q.V  AV .V  L2V 2 V V
= = = = =
K .A K .A KL2 K/ C
Where : C = K / 