Dimensionless Numbers

A. Salih
Dept. of Aerospace Engineering IIST, Thiruvananthapuram

The nondimensionalization of the governing equations of fluid flow is important for both theoretical and computational reasons. Nondimensional scaling provides a method for developing dimensionless groups that can provide physical insight into the importance of various terms in the system of governing equations. Computationally, dimensionless forms have the added benefit of providing numerical scaling of the system discrete equations, thus providing a physically linked technique for improving the ill-conditioning of the system of equations. Moreover, dimensionless forms also allow us to present the solution in a compact way. Some of the important dimensionless numbers used in fluid mechanics and heat transfer are given below.

Nomenclature Archimedes Number:

2 gL3(s ) Ar = Re = Fr 2

Atwood Number: A = (1 2) (1 + 2)

Note: Used in the study of density stratified flows. Biot Number: Bi = hL conductive resistance in solid = Ks convective resistance in thermal boundary layer

Bond Number: Bo = We gL2 = Fr

Brinkman Number: Br = U2 K(Tw To)

Note: Brinkman number is related to heat conduction from a wall to a flowing viscous fluid. It is commonly used in polymer processing. Capillary Number: Ca = We U = Re

Cauchy Number: Ca = M =
2

U K

Centrifuge Number: Ce = We Ro
2

2 3

Dean Number: De = Re (R h)
1/2

Note: Dean number deals with the stability of two-dimensional flows in a curved channel with mean radius R and width 2h. Deborah Number: De = relaxation time = tp characteristic time scale

Note: Commonly used in rheology to characterize how "fluid" a material is. The smaller the De, the more the fluid the material appears. Eckert Number: Ec = U2 cpT

Note: Eckert number represents the kinetic energy of the flow relative to the boundary layer enthalpy difference. Ec plays an important role in high speed flows for which viscous dissipation is significant. Ekman Number: Ek = Etv s Number: Eo = We gL2 = Fr L2 = viscous force Coriolis force

Euler Number: Eu = p U2 = pressure force inertial force

Fourier Number: Fo = t L
2

rate of heat conduction rate of thermal energy stored

Note: Fourier number represents the dimensionless time. It may be interpreted as the ratio of current time to time to reach steady-state. Froude Number: Fr = inertial force U2 = gravitational force gL

Galileo Number:
2 2gL3 Ga = Re = Fr 2

Graetz Number: Gz = di Pe Udi = L

Grashof Number: Gr = g(Thot Tref)L3 Hagen Number: Hg = dp L dx 2

3 2

buoyancy force viscous force

Note: It is the forced flow equivalent of Grashof number. Jakob Number: Ja = cp(Tw Tsat) hfg

Note: Jakob number represents the ratio of sensible heat to latent heat absorbed (or released) during the phase change process. Knudsen Number: Kn = length of mean free path = characteristic dimension L

Laplace Number:
2 L La = Re = 2 We

Lewis Number: Le = thermal diffusivity = DAB mass diffusivity

Mach Number: M = U inertial force = a elastic (compressibility) force

Marangoni Number: Ma = d LT dT

Note: Marangoni number is the ratio of thermal surface tension force to the viscous force. Morton Number: Mo = We3 Fr Re Nusselt Number: Nu = hL Kf
4

g4 3

Note: Nusselt number represents the dimensionless temperature gradient at the solid surface.

Ohnesorge Number: Oh = We Re
1/2

(L)
1/2

Peclet Number: Pe = UL inertia (convection) = Diffusion

Prandtl Number: Pr = momentum diffusivity = thermal diffusivity

Rayleigh Number: Ra = Gr Pr = g(Thot Tref)L

3

buoyancy viscous rate of heat diffusion

Reynolds Number: Re = UL inertial force = viscous force

Richardson Number: Ri = Gr Re2 = g(Thot Tref)L U2 = buoyancy force inertial force

Rossby Number: Ro = U inertial force = L Coriolis force

Rotating Froude Number: Fr R = Fr Ro

2 2

Schmidt Number: Sc = Le Pr = momentum diffusivity = DAB mass diffusivity

Sherwood Number: Sh = hm L DAB

Note: Sherwood number represents the dimensionless concentration gradient at the solid surface. Stanton Number: St = h Nu = Ucp Re Pr

Note: Stanton number is the modified Nusselt number. It is used in analogy between heat transfer and viscous transport in boundary layers. Stefan Number: St = cpdT specific heat = Lm latent heat

Note: Stefan number is useful in the study of heat transfer during phase change. Stokes Number: Stk = Uo stopping distance of a particle = dc characteristic dimension of the obstacle

Note: Commonly used in particles suspended in fluid. For Stk << 1, the particle negotiates the obstacle. For Stk >> 1, the particle travels in straightline and eventually collides with obstacle. Strouhal Number (for oscillatory flow): St = L inertia (local) = Utref inertia (convection)

Note: If tref is taken as the reciprocal of the circular frequency of the system, then St = Taylor Number: Ta = where L = [ri(ro ri )3]1/4 Weber Number:
2 inertial force We = U L = surface tension force

L U

2 i2L4 2

Womersley Number: = ( Re St)1/2 = L ()1/2 1/2

Note: Womersley number is used in biofluid mechanics. It is a dimensionless expression of the pulsatile flow frequency in relation to the viscous effects.

Nomenclature:
a cp DAB dT dc di g h h hfg hm K K Kf Ks speed of sound specific heat at constant pressure mass diffusivity coefficient temperature difference between phases characteristic dimension of the obstacle hydraulic diameter of the duct gravitational acceleration heat transfer coefficient width of the channel latent heat of condensation mass transfer coefficient bulk modulus of elasticity thermal conductivity of fluid thermal conductivity of fluid thermal conductivity of solid

L Lm R ri ro Thot Tref To Tsat Tw T t tref tp U Uo

characteristic length scale latent heat of melting radius of the channel radius of the inner cylinder radius of the outer cylinder temperature of the hot wall reference temperature bulk fluid temperature saturation temperature wall temperature quiescent temperature of the fluid time reference time characteristic time scale characteristic velocity scale fluid velocity far away from the object

dp/dx pressure gradient d/dT rate of change of surface tension with temperature p T 1 2 l i thermal diffusivity of fluid volumetric thermal expansion coefficient characteristic pressure difference of flow characteristic temperature difference difference in density of the two phases length of mean free path viscosity of fluid kinematic viscosity of fluid density of fluid density of heavier fluid density of lighter fluid density of solid surface tension relaxation time angular velocity circular frequency angular velocity of inner cylinder