Dimensional Analysis and Similitude

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.
2
 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.

3
 Main Topics

• Nature of Dimensional Analysis

• Raleigh Method
• 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. Procedure to arrange the functional variables
4. Know how to use the method of repeating
variables
5. 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, s, kg
– 7 Primary Dimensions:
1. Mass M (kg)
2. Length L (m)
3. Time T (s)
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/s = {Length/Time} = {L/t}
• {Force} N = {Mass  Length/Time} = {mL/t2}
 Dimensional Homogeneity
• Every additive term in an equation must have the same dimensions
• Example: Bernoulli equation

– {p} = {force/area}={(mass x (length/time2)) 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)}
 Dimensional Analysis – Raleigh’s Method
Example: Show that the drag force developed on a bluff body
(sphere) due to a fluid flow as; F =  V2 D2  f (Rn)

➢ Collect all the variables that influence the drag force

➢ Drag depends on FOUR parameters: sphere size (D); velocity of

fluid flow (U); fluid density (); fluid viscosity (m)

➢ Difficult to know how to set up experiments to determine

dependencies

➢ Difficult to know how to present results (four graphs?)

➢ Write all the variables as a functional relation and mathematical
expression
➢ F = f {D, U, , }
➢ F = f {Da  Ub  c  d}
➢ Express all the variables by using their dimension and primary
dimensions
Force, F = N → kg  (m/s2) = M L T-2
Diameter, D = m → L
Velocity, U = m/s → L T-1
Density,  = kg/m3 → M L-3
Viscosity,  = Pa-s → (N/m2) s = kg  (m/s2)  (1/m2)  s = M L-1 T-1
M L T-2 = f {(L)a  (L T-1 )b  (M L-3 )c  (M L-1 T-1 )d }
➢ Using the principle of dimensional homogeneity (equating the
power of primary dimensions of the LHS and RHS of the
equation), obtain the value of a, b, c and d
M L T-2 = f {(L)a  (L T-1 )b  (M L-3 )c  (M L-1 T-1 )d }
M  1 = c+d
L  1 = a + b - 3c – d
T  -2 = -b–d
Since the number of available equations is less than number of variable
b= 2-d c = 1–d
a = 1 – (-d+2) + 3 (1-d) + d = 1 + d -2 + 3 – 3d + d = 2 - d

a=2–d b=2–d c=1-d

➢ Substitute the value of a, b, c and d in the above expression
M L T-2 = f {(L)a  (L T-1 )b  (M L-3 )c  (M L-1 T-1 )d }
a=2–d b=2–d c=1-d

F = f {(D)2-d  (U)2-d  ()1-d  ()d}

F = (D2 U2 )  f { / ( U D)d}
F
= f (Rn)
D2 × U2 × ρ
Dimensional Analysis – Bukkingham’s  Theorem

Example: Show that the drag force developed on a bluff body

(sphere) due to a fluid flow as; F =  U2 D2  f (Rn)

➢ Collect all the variables that influence the drag force

➢ Drag depends on FOUR parameters: sphere size (D); velocity of

fluid flow (U); fluid density (); fluid viscosity ()

➢ Difficult to know how to set up experiments to determine

dependencies

➢ Difficult to know how to present results

➢ Number of variables associated with the given problem, n = 5

➢ Number of primary dimensions (M, L, T), m = 3

➢ Number of  terms (dimensionless terms), n – m = 2

➢ Select three parameters (one on each from geometric quantities, kinematic

quantities and dynamic quantities) as repeating variables

 Diameter, D (Geometrical quantity)

 Velocity, U (Kinematic quantity)

 Density,  (Dynamic quantity)

➢ Write the functional variables as mathematical expression in terms of 

1 = Da1  Ub1  c1  F

2 = Da2  Ub2  c2  

➢ Using the principle of dimensional homogeneity (equating the power of

primary dimensions of the LHS and RHS of the equation), obtain the value
of a1, b1, c1 and a2, b2, c2 .
➢ Express all the variables by using their dimension and primary dimensions and using
the principle of dimensional homogeneity (equating the power of primary
dimensions of the LHS and RHS of the equation), obtain the value of a1,
b1, c1 and a2, b2, c2 .
➢ 1 = f {(D)a1  (U)b1  ()c1  ()}
2 = f {(D)a2  (U)b2  ()c2  (F)}

➢ 1  M0 L0 T0 = f { (L)a1  (L T-1 )b1  (M L-3 )c1  (M L-1 T-1 ) }

2  M0 L0 T0 = f { (L)a2  (L T-1 )b2  (M L-3 )c2  (M L T-2) }

M0 L0 T0 = (L)a1  (L T-1 )b1  (M L-3 )c1  (M L-1 T-1 )

M  0 = c1 + 1 c1 = -1
L  0 = a1 + b1 - 3c1 – 1 a1 = -1
T  0 = - b1 – 1 b1 = -1
➢ 1  M0 L0 T0 = f { (L)a1  (L T-1 )b1  (M L-3 )c1  (M L-1 T-1 ) }
2  M0 L0 T0 = f { (L)a2  (L T-1 )b2  (M L-3 )c2  (M L T-2) }

1  M0 L0 T0 = (L)a1  (L T-1 )b1  (M L-3 )c1  (M L-1 T-1 )

M  0 = c1 + 1 c1 = -1
L  0 = a1 + b1 - 3c1 – 1 a1 = -1
T  0 = - b1 – 1 b1 = -1

2  M0 L0 T0 = (L)a2  (L T-1 )b2  (M L-3 )c2  (M L T-2 )

M  0 = c2 + 1 c2 = -1
L  0 = a2 + b2 - 3c2 + 1 a2 = -2
T  0 = - b2 – 2 b2 = -2
➢ 1  M0 L0 T0 = f { (L)a1  (L T-1 )b1  (M L-3 )c1  (M L-1 T-1 ) }
2  M0 L0 T0 = f { (L)a2  (L T-1 )b2  (M L-3 )c2  (M L T-2) }

1  M0 L0 T0 = (L)-1  (L T-1 )-1  (M L-3 )-1  (M L-1 T-1 )

2  M0 L0 T0 = (L)-2  (L T-1 )-2  (M L-3 )-1  (M L T-2 )

μ F
1 = 2 = D2 U2 ρ
ρUD

F
2 = = f (1)  F = D2 U2   f (Rn)
D 2 U2 ρ
 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 once 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
– Weber’s Number
– Cauchy’s Number
– Newton 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 V
 .A  .A  
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
Mass.  . Velocity
Fi Time = Time
Eu = =
Fp Pr essure. Area Pr essure. Area
 Q.V  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 / 