Dr.

Muhammad Ali Shamim

ali.shamim@uettaxila.edu.pk
051-9047652;
051
9047652; Internal 652

Concept of Dimensional Analysis in fluid

p
phenomenon
Solid understanding of fluid flow in pressure
conduits
Understanding of forces on immersed bodies
Various types of hydraulic machinery and
their working

By the end of the course, students will be able

to
` Perform Dimensional analysis for Hydraulic
model studies
`

Understand the basics of fluid flow through

pipes, differentiate between laminar and
turbulent flow and velocity profiles for both.

Understand the formation of boundary layer

g and form
in immersed bodies,, surface drag
drag.
Construction and working of turbo-machines
used in the field and how to achieve the
maximum efficiency in each of them.

Dimensional Analysis

Rayleigh and Buckingham's Pi-theorem and their

applications.

Fluid flow in pipes

Reynold's number and its significance, Instability of
viscous flow.
Viscous flow through circular pipes. Turbulent flow
through circular pipes.
Semi-empirical theories of turbulence. Velocity
profile
p
in turbulent flow.
Pipe roughness, Nukuradse's experiments. Moody's
diagrams.
Pipe networks

Forces on immersed bodies

Development of boundary layer on immersed

Bodies.
Elementary theory of surface drag and form drag.
Simple lift and drag equations and their
applications to simple engineering problems.
Separation of boundary layer.

Forces on vanes and turbomachinery

Impulse momentum equation.

Forces on moving flat and curved vanes.
Impulse turbine, construction features and
operations, Specific speed.
Reaction turbine, types, construction features and
operation, specific speed, cavitation, draft tube.

Centrifugal pumps.

Classification, construction features and operation,

specific speed, cavitation.

Reciprocating Pumps

Single acting and double acting pumps, acceleration

head, maximum suction lift. Use of air vessels

Assessment
20%
etc)
20%
20%
40%

sessional (quizzes, assignments, presentations

mid semester examination
laboratory work
final exam (end semester)

what a man means by a term is

to be found out by observing
what he does with it, not what
he says about it.
Percy W.
Bridgman
1882-1961

The principal use of the dimensional analysis is to

deduce from a study of dimensions of variables in
any physical
h
l system certain limitations
l
and
d any
possible relationship between those variables
(Bridgman).
It is a pure mathematical technique to establish a
relationship between physical quantities involved in
a fluid phenomenon by considering their
dimensions.

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`

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`

Consistent
problem
solving
approach
Reduces errors in algebra
Reinforces unit conversion
Simplifies computation
Improves understanding of math
applications
li i
Multiple ways to solve the same
problem

Successful problem solving

strategy for advanced or
special needs students
Vertically
aligns
with
strategies for Physics and
Ch
i
Chemistry
Improves Math scores
Easy to assess and grade

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`
`

Identify what you are being asked.

Write down what is given or known.
Look for relationships between knowns
and unknowns (use charts, equations).
Rearrange the equation to solve for the
unknown.
Do the computations, cancel the units,
check for reasonable answers

EX. How many quarts is 9.3 cups?

9.3 cups

? quarts

9.3 cups

9.3 cups

? quarts

* Use charts or tables to find relationships

9.3 cups

quart

cups

*units of known in denominator (bottom) first

*** units of unknowns in numerator (top)

10

9.3 cups

9.3 cups

quart

cups

quart

9.3 x 1
=

cups

1 x 4

9.3
=

2.325 quarts

11

Secret #1: Usually not all of these are

possible. Sometimes none are.
ALL IS NOT LOST BECAUSE OF
Secret #2: Dimensional Analysis

Dimensional Analysis
Dimensional Analysis refers to the physical
nature of the quantity and the type of unit
(Dimension) used to specify it.
Distance has dimension L.
Area has dimension L2.
Volume has dimension L3.
Time has dimension T.
Speed has dimension L/T

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Heat Loss Surface Area (L2)

Mass Volume (L3)

H
Heat L
Loss/Mass
/M
A
Area/Volume
/V l
2
= L / L3
= L-1

Heat Loss/Mass Area/Volume

= L2/ L3
= L-1

Mouse (L = 5 cm)
1/L = 1/(0
05 m)
1/(0.05
= 20 m-1

Polar Bear (L = 2 m)
1/L = 1/(2 m))
= 0.5 m-1

20 : 0.5 or 40 : 1

13

Gulliver was 12x the

Lilliputians
How much should they
feed
him?
12x their food ration?
A persons food needs are
related to their mass
(volume) This depends
on the cube of the linear
dimension.

Let LG and VG denote Gullivers linear and volume

dimensions.
Let LL and VL denote the Lilliputians linear and
volume dimensions.

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Gulliver is 12x taller than the Lilliputians,

LG =12 LL
Now VG (LG)3 and VL (LL)3, so
= (LG)3 / (LL)3
= (12 LL)3 / (LL)3
= 123
= 1728
Gulliver needs to be fed 1728 times
the amount of food each day as the
Lilliputians.
VG / VL

15

`
`

Development
p
e o e o
phenomenon

of

an

equation

for

fluid

Conversion of one system of units to another

Reducing the number of variables required in
an experimental program
Develop principles of hydraulic similitude for
model study

MLT system
FLT syste
system

These two systems are inter-related

F = ma
2nd Law of motion
F = MLT-2
M = FL-1T-2

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[x], Length L
[m], Mass M
[t], Time T
[v], Velocity LT-1
[a],
[ ], Acceleration LT-2
[F], Force MLT-2

[], Mass Density ML-3

[P], Pressure ML-1T-2
[E], Energy ML2T-2
[I], Electric Current QT-1
[q], Electric Change
g Q
[E], Electric Field - MLQT-2

Principle of Dimensional Homogeneity (1822Baron Joseph Fourier)

The fundamental dimensions and their respective
powers should be identical on either side of the sign
of equality.

Q=A
V continuity
ti it equation
ti
(h
A.V
(homogeneous))

17

`
`

Rayleighs Method
Buckinghams -method

Functional relationship between variables is

expressed
p
in the form of an exponential
p
relation which must be dimensionally
homogeneous
if y is a function of independent variables
x1,x2,x3,..xn, then

y = f ( x1 , x 2 , x3 ,.......x n )

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In exponential form as

y = [( x1 ) a , ( x 2 ) b , ( x3 ) c ,.......(( x n ) z ]

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

Write fundamental relationship of the given data

Write the same equation in exponential form
Select suitable system of fundamental dimensions
Substitute
S b i
dimensions
di
i
off the
h physical
h i l quantities
ii
Apply dimensional homogeneity
Equate the powers and compute the values of the
exponents
Substitute the values of exponents
Simplify the expression
Ideal up to three independent variables, can be
d ffor ffour.
used

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For further understanding, lets explore the

q
y (V) of a p
equation
for the velocity
pressure
wave through a fluid.
First it should be visualised what physical
factors actually influence the velocity
Compressibility E density and kinematic
viscosity are the physical factors influencing
the motion

The dimensions of these quantities will be

L
F M
V = , E = 2 = 2
T
L LT
L2
M
= 3 , =
L
T

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V = CEa b d
C is the dimensionless constant. Substituting
the dimensions
L M M L2
=

T LT 2 L3 T
a

`
`
`

For dimensional homogeneity, the exponents

of each dimension must be identical on both
sides.
For M
For L
For T

0 = a+b
1 = a 3b + 2d
1 = 2 a + d

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Solving the above equations, we get

a = 1/ 2
b = 1 / 2
d =0

So finally,

V =C

Dimensional analysis was developed in such

way
y by
y Lord Rayleigh.
y g
Very serviceable
superseded.

method

but

has

been

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Developed by E. Buckingham (1915)-a more generalized

method of dimensional analysis.
` If n is the total number of variables in a dimensionally
homogenous equation containing m fundamental
dimensions, then they may be grouped into (n-m)
terms.
if y=f(x1, x2, xn)
then the functional relationship will be written as
`

( 1 , 2 .......

`
`

`
`
`
`

nm

) = 0

Suitable where n 4
Not applicable if (n-m) = 0

List all physical variables and note n and m.

n = total no. of variables
m = eq.
eq containing fundamental
dimensions
Compute number of -terms
Write the eq. in functional form
Write eq. in general form
Select repeating variables. Must have all of the m
fundamental dimensions and should not form a among
themselves
Solve each -term for the unknown exponents
by
p
y
dimensional homogeneity.

[ 1 ,

,.........

.] = 0

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Consider the factors affecting the drag force

p
on a sphere.
These include size of the sphere D, velocity of
the sphere V, density and viscosity . So

f ( F D , D ,V , , ) = 0
`

Here we see that n=5

Choose a Dimensionless system (MLT or FLT)

and determine the number of fundamental
dimensions involved in the system (m).
We will choose MLT system
corresponding dimension will be

so

the

ML
L M
M
,L,
, 3 ,
2
T
T
L
LT
`

We can see that here m=3

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Determine the number of -terms needed. In

y will be n-m=5-3=2.
this case they
Select the primary or repeating variables such
that they must contain all of the m
fundamental dimensions and must not form a
(dimensionless group) among themselves.
Choose , D and V as the repeating variables.
The -terms will then be

a1

a2

D
D

b1

b2

c1

c2

FD

Using
the
principle
of
dimensional
homogeneity, we can solve for the exponents
on each side of the equation.
Since -terms are dimensionless, they can be
replaced by M0L0T0.

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So our expressions will look like

M
M L T = 3
L
M : 0 = a1 + 1
0

a1

b1

c1

LT

L : 0 = 3 a 1 + b1 + c 1 1
T : 0 = c1 1

Solving,

a 1 = 1; b1 = 1; c 1 = 1
thus

DV

DV
=

As

Re = DV

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= R

and

FD
D 2V

( 1 ,

)=

FD
D 2V

0
2

= 0

This shows that the drag force depends upon the

Reynolds number which is the ratio of inertial
forces
f
to viscous forces.
f
Dimensional analysis only provides a partial
solution to the fluid problems as it depends
entirely on the ability of the individual to perceive
the factors influencing a fluid phenomenon.
So if an important variable is omitted, then the
results could be entirely different.

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