Faculty of Chemical Engineering

CHE 493
Fluid Mechanics
Chapter 11:
Dimensional analysis

Learning
Outcome
Learning Outcomes:

Faculty of Chemical Engineering

Develop a set of dimensionless variables for a given

flow situation using the Buckingham Pi theorem
Evaluate the results of the dimensional analysis in
the required form
Discuss the primary purposes of dimensional
analysis
State examples of common dimensionless numbers
e.g. Re, Fr, f
2

Dimensional
Analysis
Learning Outcomes:

Faculty of Chemical Engineering

mathematical technique which makes use of the

study of the dimensions for solving several
engineering problems.
helps in determining a systematic arrangement of
the variables in the physical relationship, combining
dimensional variables to form non-dimensional
parameters

Introduction
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

Dimension a measure of a physical quantity

(without numerical value)
Unit a way to assign a number to that dimension
Eg: Length is a dimension, measured in units such
as microns (m), feet (ft), centimeters (cm,
meters (m), kilometers (km)

7 basic dimensions

Purposes of dimensional analysis

Faculty of Chemical Engineering

To generate non-dimensional parameters that help in

designing of experiments and in the reporting of
experimental results
To test the dimensional homogeneity of any equation of
fluid motion.
To derive rational formulae for a flow phenomenon.
To derive equations expressed in terms of nondimensional parameters to show the relative
significance of each parameter.
To obtain scaling laws so that prototype performance
can be predicted from model performance
To predict trends in the relationship between
parameters
6

Methods of dimensional analysis

Faculty of Chemical Engineering

Rayleighs method
Buckinghams -method
Bridgmans method
Matrix-tensor method
By visual inspection of the variables involved

Rearrangement of differential equations

7

Dimensionless quantities
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

A quantity that has no units is known as a

non-dimensional (or dimensionless) quantity
A dimensionless proportion has the same
value regardless of the measurement units
used to calculate it.
Examples: relative density, strain and
angle measured in radians, Reynolds number,
Froude number, Euler number.
[Strain]=[Extension]/[original length]
= [L]/[L]
= [1]
8

Purposes of dimensional analysis

Faculty of Chemical Engineering

Dimensionless
Group

Name
Reynolds number, Re

Froude number, Fr

Euler number, Eu

2 Cauchy number, Ca

Mach number , Ma
Strouhal number, St

Weber number, We

Interpretation

Examples
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

By using primary dimensions, verify

that the Archimedes and Grashof
number are indeed dimensionless
Ar=(sgL3/2)(s-)

10

Examples
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

Ar=(sgL3/2)(s-)

11

Buckingham -method
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

Buckingham -method is a key theorem in

dimensional analysis
Provides a way of generating sets of
dimensionless parameters

12

Determination of term
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

Theorem states that if

we have an equation

involving a certain number,

n,

of variables, and

these variables are expressible in terms of

independent fundamental physical quantities

k,

To determine number of p ()

p=nk
13

Steps
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

7. Express the final

form as a
relationship among
the pi terms

6. Check all the resulting pi

terms to make sure they are
dimensionless

5. Form a pi term by
multiplying one of the non
repeating variables by the
product of the repeating
variables.

1.List all the

variables, n that are
involved in the
problem

2. Express each of the

variables in terms of basic
dimensions

4. Select a number of
repeating variables. The
number required is equal to
the number of reference
dimensions

3. Determine the
required number of
pi terms

14

Buckingham Pi Theorem

Buckingham -method
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

Assume the pipe is a smooth pipe.

Using
Buckingham (Pi) theorem, determine the
dimensionless Pi parameters involved in the
problem of determining pressure drop along a
straight, horizontal circular pipe. We are
interested in the pressure drop per unit
length, Dpl, along the pipe
D

r, m

Dpl = (p1-p2)/l
15

Buckingham -method
1.List all the variables, n that are involved in
the problem
Relevant flow parameters

Dpl pressure drop, density, V average

velocity, viscosity, D pipe diameter.
Therefore, the pressure drop is a function,

Dpl= f( , V, , D)
16

Dimensional-method
Analysis
Buckingham
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

2.Express each of the

variables in terms of
basic dimensions
Primary dimensions
There are a total of
three (3) primary
dimensions involved: M,
L, and T.

Dpl

MT-2L-3
ML-3
LT-1
ML-1T-1
L
17

Buckingham -method
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

3.Determine the required number, p

of pi terms

p=nk
Since there are five (n=5)
variables, and three required
reference dimensions (k=3:M,L,T),
then according to the pi theorem
(5-3), two (2) pi terms required
18

Buckingham -method
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

4.Select
a
number
of
repeating
variables, m. The number required is
equal to the number of reference
dimensions
Must contain jointly all the fundamental
dimension.
Must not form the non-dimensional parameters among
themselves.
Geometric properties (l,d,h), flow property (v,a)
and fluid property (,).
Pick simple parameters.
Now, select a set of dimensional parameters that
collectively they includes all the primary
dimensions. Select m = three since we have three
primary dimensions involved in the problem
19

Buckingham -method
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

Do not select dependent variable as one of

repeating variable

Thus, we will select , V and d

20

P
Groups
Buckingham -method
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

5.Form a pi term by multiplying one of the

nonrepeating variables by the product of
the repeating variables.
Set up dimensionless groups by
combining the parameters selected
previously with as Dpl or .

21

Buckingham -method
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

The first group:

1= Dpl ra Vb Dc, a, b & c exponents are needed to
non-dimensionalize the group. In order to be
dimensionless:
1= Dpl Da Vb c
(MT-2L-2)(L)a(LT-1)b(ML-3)c = M0L0T0
1+c = 0
(For M)
-2+a+b-3c = 0
(For L)
-2-b = 0
(For T)
c=-1, a = 1, b = -2

Thus,
= Dpl D / V2

22

Buckingham -method
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

The process is repeated for the

remaining nonrepeating variable, m.
2= Da Vb c
(ML-1T-1)(L)a(LT-1)b(ML-3)c = M0L0T0
1 + c = 0
(For M)
-1 + a + b -3c = 0
(For L)
-1-b = 0
(For T)
a = -1, b = -1, c = -1
2= / DV
23

Buckingham -method
Faculty of Chemical Engineering

6. Check all the resulting pi terms to make

sure they are dimensionless
7. Express the final form as a relationship
among the pi terms
Dpl D/V2 = (/ DV)
Dimensional analysis will not provide form
of the function . Thus, the pi terms can be
rearranged, that is, the reciprocal of
/DV could be used. Thus
2= DVr/m
The relationship between 1 and 2
Dpl D/V2 = (/ DV)
24

EXAMPLE 2
A thin rectangular plate having a width (w) and
a height (h) is located so that it is normal to a
moving stream of fluid. Assume the drag (D)
that the fluid exerts on the plate is a function of
w,h, the fluid viscosity (), density() and
velocity (v) of the fluid approaching the plate.
Determine a suitable set of -terms to study
this problem experimentally.
25