FLUID MECHANICS II

DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
OVERVIEW
In 1915, Lord Rayleigh suggested:
 “to think before performing complex and expensive experiments”.

 Many practical flow problems of different nature can be solved by using

equations and analytical procedures. However, solutions of some real
flow problems depend heavily on experimental data and the
refinements in the analysis are made, based on the measurements.
 Sometimes, the experimental work in the laboratory is not only time-
consuming, but also expensive. So, the dimensional analysis is an
important tool that helps in correlating analytical results with
experimental data for such unknown flow problems.
 Also, some dimensionless parameters and scaling laws can be framed
in order to predict the prototype behavior from the measurements on
the model.
SIMILITUDE
 Usually we find it impossible to determine all the essential facts
for a given fluid flow by pure theory alone, so we must often
depend on experimental investigations.
 We can greatly reduce the number of tests needed using
dimensional analysis and laws of similitude or similarity.
 The similarity law enables us to experiment with a convenient
fluid such as water or air and then apply these results to a fluid
that is less convenient to work with, such as hydrogen, steam
or oil.
SIMILITUDE
 The laws of similitude enables us to predict the
performance of prototype (full size device) from
test made with model.
 We need not to use the same fluid for the model
and prototype. Neither must the model necessarily
be smaller than its prototype.
 Example of models: Ships in towing basins,
airplanes in wind tunnel, hydraulic turbines,
spillways of dam, river channels, study of such
phenomenon as the action of waves, tides on
beaches, soil erosion, transport of sediment.
MODEL ANALYSIS
 Model: is the small scale replica of the actual structure or
machine. It is not necessary that models should be smaller
than the prototypes (although in most of the cases it is), they
may be larger than the prototypes.

 Prototype: The actual structure or machine

 Model analysis: the study of models of actual machine.

• In experimental fluid mechanics we sometimes can not work with real sized objects,
known as prototypes. Instead we use scaled down (or up) versions of them, called
models.
• Also sometimes in experiments we use fluids that are different than actual working
fluids, e.g. we use regular tap water instead of salty sea water to test the
performance of a marine propeller.

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Wind tunnel tests of an airliner Race car being tested in a water tunnel
 How flows become floods
Japan Tsunami 2011

Experimental modelling to study flow behavior.

ADVANTAGES OF SIMILITUDE AND
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
 The performance of the machine can be easily predicted, in
advance.
 With the help of dimensional analysis, a relationship between
the variables influencing a flow problem in terms of
dimensional parameters is obtained.
 This relationship helps in conducting tests on the model.
 The merits of alternative designs can be predicted with the help
of model testing. The most economical and safe design may be,
finally, adopted.
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

 It is a pure mathematical technique to establish a relationship

between physical quantities involved in a fluid phenomenon by
considering their dimensions.

 Dimensional Analysis: The systematic procedure of identifying

the variables in a physical phenomena and correlating them to
form a set of dimensionless group is known as 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
APPLICATION OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

 Development of an equation for fluid phenomenon

 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
FUNDAMENTAL DIMENSIONS
 MLT system
 FLT system
These two systems are inter-related

F = ma 2nd Law of motion

F = MLT-2 (mass (Kg) x acceleration (meter/second2)

M = FL-1T2
FUNDAMENTAL AND DERIVED QUANTITIES
 Fundamental Quantities:
 Length (L) , mass (M) , time (T).
 Some time temperature (θ) is also used as a
fundamental quantity.

 Secondary quantities: are those which possess

more than one fundamental dimension.
 Example: Velocity (L/T)
 Acceleration (L/T2)
 Density (M/L3)
ASSIGNMENT 1-A
(CLO-1)

 Find yourself a number of physical

parameters generally involved in Physics and
specially in Fluid Mechanics, write and
submit the dimensions with their units and
memorize them.
DIMENSIONAL HOMOGENEITY
 If the fundamental dimensions and their respective
powers are identical on either sides of the sign of equality
then equation is said to be dimensionally homogeneous.

Q = A.V continuity equation (homogeneous) i.e. L3T-1 = L3T-1

Whereas in case of beam shear stress
V = 2√fc’ bw d
FL-2 = [FL-2]1/2L.L
FL-2 = [F1/2L] is dimensionally non homogeneous
METHODS FOR DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

 If the number of variables involved in a physical

phenomenon are known, then the relation
among the variables can be determined by the
following two methods.

 Rayleigh’s
Method
 Buckingham’s π-method
RAYLEIGH’S METHOD

Functional relationship between variables is

expressed in the form of an exponential
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 )
RAYLEIGH’S METHOD

In exponential form as

y  [( x1 ) , ( x 2 ) , ( x3 ) ,.......( x n ) ]
a b c z
PROCEDURE
 Write fundamental relationship of the given data
 Write the same equation in exponential form
 Select suitable system of fundamental dimensions
 Substitute dimensions of the physical quantities
 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 used for
four.
RAYLEIGH’S METHOD
 For further understanding, lets explore the
equation for the velocity (V) of a pressure wave
through a fluid.

 First it should be visualised what physical factors

actually influence the velocity

 Compressibility E density ρ and kinematic

viscosity υ are the physical factors influencing the
motion.
 The dimensions of these quantities will be
L F   M 
V   , E   2    2 
T   L   LT 
M  L 
2
   3 ,   
L  T 
 V  CEa  b d

C is the dimensionless constant. Substituting the

dimensions 2 d
L  M  M  L 
a b

 
2   3  

T  LT   L   T 
 For dimensional homogeneity, the exponents of
each dimension must be identical on both
sides.
0  ab
 For M 1  a  3b  2d
 1  2a  d
 For L

 For T
 Solving the above equations, we get
a  1/ 2
b  1 / 2
d 0

 So finally, E
V C

ASSIGNMENT 1-B

 Use the definition to determine the

dimensions of viscosity.


 Since the expression is dimensionless,

use the same expression to derive dimensions
of µ.
.

 Dimensional analysis was developed in such

way by Lord Rayleigh.

 Very serviceable method but has been

superseded.
BUCKINGHAM PI METHOD
 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) π terms.
if y=f(x1, x2, ……xn)
then the functional relationship will be written as

 ( 1 ,  2 ....... n m )  0
 Suitable where n4
 Not applicable if (n-m) = 0
PROCEDURE
 List all physical variables and note ‘n’ and ‘m’.
n = total no. of variables
m = eq. containing fundamental dimensions
 Compute number of π-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 π among themselves
 Solve each π-term for the unknown exponents by dimensional homogeneity.

 [ 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,..........]  0
METHODS OF SELECTING REPEATING
VARIABLES
 The dependent variable should not be selected as repeating variable.
 The dependent variables should be chosen in such a way that one variable
contains geometric property, other variable contains flow property and third
variable contains fluid property.

 Example:
 Geometric properties: length, diameter, height
 Flow properties: velocity, acceleration
 Fluid properties: viscosity, density

 The repeating variable should not form a dimensionless group

 The repeating variables should have the same number of fundamental
dimensions.
 No two repeating variables should have the same fundamental dimensions.
BUCKINGHAM PI METHOD

 Consider the factors affecting the drag force on

a sphere.

 These include size of the sphere D, velocity of

the sphere V, density ρ and viscosity μ. So
f ( FD , D, V ,  ,  )  0

 Here we see that n=5

BUCKINGHAM PI METHOD
 Choose a Dimensionless system (MLT or FLT) and
determine the number of fundamental dimensions
involved in the system (m).

 We will choose MLT system so the corresponding

dimension will be

ML L M M
2
, L, , 3 ,
T T L LT
 We can see that here m=3
BUCKINGHAM PI METHOD
 Determine the number of π-terms needed. In this
case they will be n-m=5-3=2.

 Select the primary or repeating variables such that

they must contain all of the m fundamental
dimensions and must not form a π (dimensionless
group) among themselves.

 Choose ρ, D and V as the repeating variables. The

π-terms will then be
BUCKINGHAM PI METHOD

1   a1 D b1V c1 
2   a2 b2
D V c2
FD

 Using the principle of dimensional homogeneity,

we can solve for the exponents on each side of the
equation.

 Since π-terms are dimensionless, they can be

replaced by M0L0T0.
BUCKINGHAM PI METHOD

 So our expressions will look like

a1 c1
M  L  M 
M LT  3 
0 0 0
L   
b1

 L   T   LT 
M : 0  a1  1
L : 0  3a1  b1  c1  1
T : 0  c1  1
BUCKINGHAM PI METHOD
 Solving,

a1  1; b1  1; c1  1
thus
1
  DV 
1   1 1
D V 1
  
  

DV  

 As Re  DV / 
BUCKINGHAM PI METHOD

1  R 1
and
FD
2 
D V
2 2

 1 ,  2   0
 1 FD 

 R , D 2V 2 
0
 
BUCKINGHAM PI METHOD
 This shows that the drag force depends upon the Reynold’s
number which is the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces.

 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.
EXAMPLE:
 The ship is subjected to drag force FD on its hull, created by water passing
over and around its surface. It is anticipated that this force is a function of
the density р, viscosity μ, of the water, and since waves are produced, their
weight, defined by gravity g, is important. Also the ‘characteristics’ length of
the ship, L and the velocity of the flow, influences the magnitude of the drag.
Show how the force depends on all these variables.
ASSIGNMENT 1-C
 In a laboratory experiment a tank is drained through an orifice from initial
liquid level ℎ0. The time, 𝜏, to drain the tank depends on tank diameter, 𝐷,
orifice diameter, 𝑑, gravitational acceleration, 𝑔, liquid properties, 𝜌 and
𝜇. Determine the Pi groups.
 The diameter, 𝑑, of the dots made by an ink jet printer depends on the ink
properties, 𝜌 and 𝜇, surface tension, 𝜎, nozzle diameter, 𝐷, the distance,
𝐿, of the nozzle from the paper and the ink jet velocity, 𝑉. Determine the
Pi groups.
 Consider the flow of an incompressible fluid through a long, smooth-
walled horizontal, circular pipe. We are interested in analyzing the
pressure drop, ∆𝑝, over a pipe length of 𝐿. Other variables of the problem
are pipe diameter (𝐷), average velocity (𝑉) and fluid properties (𝜌 and 𝜇).
Determine the Pi groups by a) selecting 𝜌 as a repeating parameter, b)
selecting 𝜇 asa repeating parameter.
ASSIGNMENT 1-D
 During floods 2010,many river embankments were failed which
caused enormous scouring (Length = Sl and Depth = Sd). For
performing experiments in laboratory, different parameters
were identified which are highlighted in below figure. Determine
different Pi-groups.

Z dbank
hw hbank 1
Levee 3 Sd
Land side Wooden bar Y
River side Sl
EXERCISE 1-E

 Solve all the related numericals i.e.

examples as well as problems in the text
book of Fluid Mechanics (Joseph B Franzini
& E. Finnemore, 10th Edition) related to
dimensional analysis.
SUBMISSION DATE OF ASSIGNMENTS

 The submission date of Assignments 1-a to 1-e

will be March 21, 2018.