Dimensional Analysis -

Hydraulic Similitude
Prof. G.K. VISWANADH
Professor of Civil Engineering and
OSD TO V.C

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 UNIT - II
HYDRAULIC SIMILITUDE :
• Dimensional analysis-
– Rayleigh’s method and Buckingham’s pi theorem
• Study of Hydraulic models –
– Geometric,
– kinematic and
– dynamic similarities-
• Dimensionless numbers
• Model and prototype relations.
• Distorted and non-distorted models.

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 Methods of Dimensional Analysis

• Dimensional Analysis is a mathematical

technique for solution of several Engineering
problems.
• Each Physical Phenomenon can be expressed
by an equation, composed of variables or
physical quantities which may be dimensional
and non-dimensional quantities.

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 DIMENSIONS
• Fundamental quantities or primary quantities:
The various physical quantities used by the
Engineers to describe a given phenomenon
can be described by a set of quantities.

• Primary quantities
– Length (L), Mass (M), and Time (T) and also
temperature θ.

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 DIMENSIONS….
• Derived quantities
• All other quantities such as area, volume, velocity,
acceleration, force, energy, power etc.,
• The expression for a derived quantity in terms of the
primary quantities is called the dimension of the
physical quantity.
• For Eg: Force = Mass x Acceleration

• One more system is FL T

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 Dimensional homogeneity

• An equation is said to be dimensionally

homogeneous, if the dimension of the terms
on its left hand side are same as the
dimensions of the terms on its right hand
side.
• For example, The equation for discharge over
a rectangular weir.

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• Example for dimensionally non-homogeneous
equation
1 2 / 3 1/ 2
Manning's equation V  R S
n
• V = Mean Velocity
• R= Hydraulic mean radius
• S = Bed slope
• n = Manning's roughness coefficient

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• Since this equation is dimensionally non-
homogeneous, it can be used only in metric
systems of units, with v in m/s, and R in m for
a given value of n

Methods of dimensional analysis:

a) Rayleigh’s Method
b) Buckingham π-method
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 Rayleigh’s Method

This method of dimensional analysis was

proposed by Lard Rayleigh in 1899, for
determining the effect of temperature on the
Viscosity of a gas.
In this method, a functional relationship of
some variables is expressed in the form of an
Exponential equation which must be
divisionally homogeneous.

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• Thus if ‘X’ is some function of variables X1, X2, X3, .
. ., X4, then functional equation can be written in
the following form

• X = ƒ (X1, X2, X3, . . ., X4)

• X1, X2, . . . - independent variable

• X = C (X1a X2b X3c ………..Xnn )

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• In which ‘C’ is a dimensionless constant, which
may be determined either from physical
characteristics of the problem or from
experimental measurements.

• The exponents a, b, c….n are the exponent

variables which can be evaluated on the basis
that the equation is dimensionally
homogeneous.

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• The dimensionless parameters are then
formed by grouping together the variables
with like powers.

• Consider the problem of fluid flow through a

small orifice discharging freely into
atmosphere under constant head.

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• Let ‘Q’ be the discharge passing through a
small orifice of diameter ‘d’ under a constant
head ‘H’.

• Let ‘ρ’ be the mass density,

• ‘µ’ the dynamic viscosity of the fluid flowing
through orifice.

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• The discharge ‘Q’ may be assumed to depend
on these variables D, H, ρ, µ, ɡ

• Then ‘Q’ may be written as Q = ƒ (µ, ρ, D, H, ɡ)

• Which by Rayleigh’s method may be expressed

in an exponential form
• Q = C (µa ρb Dc Hd ɡe)
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• Where ‘C’ is a dimensionless constant

• Substituting the proper dimensions for each

variable in this exponential equation in M-L-T
system.
• Q = C (µa ρb Dc Hd ɡe)

• L3/T = [M0L0T0] [M L-1 T-1]a [M L-3]b [L]c [L]d [LT-2]e

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• Q – discharge -m3/s L3/T L3T-1

• µ - dynamic viscosity
•
• Shear stress = force/area

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• ρ – mass density = Mass/ volume = [M L-3 ]
• D – [L]
• H –[ L]
• ɡ - m/s2 = [LT-2 ]

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• For dimensional homogeneity the exponents of
each dimension on both sides of the equation
must be identical.
• L3/T = [M0L0T0] [M L-1 T-1]a [M L-3]b [L]c [L]d [LT-2]e
• L3 T-1 = Ma + b L-a-3b+c+d+e T-a-2e

• For M a+b=0
• For L -a-3b+c+d+e=3
• For T -a-2e =-1

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• Since there are five unknown in three equations,
three of the unknowns must be expressed in
terms of the other two say ‘a’ and ‘d’.

b=-a
- 2e = - 1 + a
e = (- 1 + a)/(-2) = (a-1)/(-2) = (1-a)/2
b= 5/2 – (3/2)a - d

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Substituting in Q = C (µaρb Dc Hd ɡe)
Therefore
• Q = C [µa. ρ-a. D(5/2 – (3/2)a - d). Hd. ɡ(1/2 - a/2)]

• = C [(D5/2 . ɡ1/2) (µa. ρ-a. D– (3/2)a . ɡ-a/2) (Hd. D–d)]

• = C [(D2D1/2ɡ1/2) (µa/(ρD3/2 ɡ1/2)a (H/D) d]

• = C[ D2H1/2ɡ1/2)]

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 Dr GK Viswanadh Prof. of Civil Engg. & OSD
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• This expression may be written in the usually
form

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 Problem
By dimensional analysis show that the torque ‘T’
of a wheel of diameter ‘D’, revolving at a
speed ‘N’ in a fluid by viscosity ‘µ’ and mass
density ‘ϱ’ is given by the expression.

• Use Rayleigh’s method. Hence show that

power

.
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• T = ƒ (ρ, D, N, V)

• ρ – mass density ML-3

• D – diameter L
• N – speed T-1
• V - kinematic viscosity – L2 T-1
• T – Torque = Force x distance

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• = MLT-2 x L = ML2 T-2

• T = C (ρa Db Nc Vd]

• [ML2 T-2]= [M0L0T0] [M L-3]a [L]b [T-1]c [L2T-1]d

• ML2 T-2 = Ma L-3a + b + 2d T-c –d

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• a=1
• -3a + b + 2d = 2
• - c – d = -2

• 4 unknown in 3 equations
• -3(1) + b + 2d = 2
• b + 2d = 2 + 3 = 5
• - c – d = -2 => c + d = 2
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 .
• .. a=1
• b = 5 – 2d and c=2–d

• T = C [ρ1 D5 – 2d N2 - d Vd]

• = C [ρ D5 D-2d N2 N-d Vd]

• = C [(ρD5N2)(1/ND2)d (V)d]
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• T = C [(ρN2D5) ƒ(V/ND2)]

• Power = Toque/sec ML2/T-3

• [1/T] is speed N

• P = [(ρN2D5) (N) ƒ(V/ND2)

• P= ρN3D5 ƒ(V/ND2)

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 Buckingham π - method
• The Buckingham π-theorem states that if there
are n-dimensional variables involved is a
phenomenon, which can be completely described
by ‘m’ fundamental quantities or dimensions
• (such as mass length & time)
• and are related by dimensionally homogeneous
equation, then the relationship among the ‘m’
quantities can always be expressed in terms of
exactly (n-m) dimensionless and independent π
terms.

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• Mathematically if any variable ‘Q1’, depends on the
independent variables , Q2, Q3, Q4 . . . Qn, the
functional equation may be written as
• Q1 = ƒ(Q2, Q3, Q4 . . . Qn)
• Which can be transformed to another functional
relationship

• ƒ1(Q1 ,Q2, Q3, Q4 . . . Qn) = C

• C – dimensionless constant

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• In accordance with π–Theorem, a non-
dimensional equation

• ƒ2 (π1 , π2, π3, π4 . . . πn-m) = C1

• Each dimensionless π term is formed by

combining ‘m’ variables out of total ‘n’
variables with one of remaining variables
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• Choose Repeating variables

• They involve all the ‘m’ fundamental

quantities

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 Flow through an orifice

STEP 1
• The physical quantities involved in the phenomenon
are Q d H ɡ µ ρ

The functional equation

• Q = ƒ (d, H, ɡ, µ, ρ)
• Or ƒ (Q,d, H, ɡ, µ, ρ) = C
• Number of variables n = 6
• Number of fundamental quantities m = 3
• Number of dimensionless terms = n-m =6-3=3
• so that ƒ2 (π1, π2, π3) = C
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STEP 2
• Choose repeating variables
• Number of repeating variables = number of
fundamental quantities =3
• Fluid property, flow property, linear parameter
• Among Q d H ɡ µ ρ, choose repeating
variables as ρ d ɡ

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. STEP 3

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 Comparing the powers of like terms

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• STEP 4
• Since ƒ2 (π1, π2, π3) = C1

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 OUTLINE PROCEDURE
1) List all the ‘n’ physical quantities or variables
involved in the phenomenon

Note their dimensions and the number ‘m’ of

the fundamental dimensions comprised in
them

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 OUTLINE PROCEDURE
2) There will be (n-m) π terms select ‘m’ variables
out of these which serve as repeating variables.
These variables should be such that

I. None of them is dimensionless

II. No two variables have the same dimensions
III. They themselves do not form a dimensionless
parameter
IV. All the ‘m’ fundamental dimension are included
variables should not be taken as repeating variables

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 OUTLINE PROCEDURE

• Usually
– a characteristic linear dimension
– a characteristic velocity
– a characteristic fluid property
are chosen as repeating variables

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 OUTLINE PROCEDURE
3) Write general equations for different Pi (π) -
terms

4) Write dimensional equations

5) Write final general equations

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 OUTLINE PROCEDURE
In order to obtain final general expression in
desired manner
I. If a quantity is dimensionless it is a π term
without going through the above procedure
Eg: η is pi-term
I. If any two physical quantities have same
dimensions, their ratio will be one of the π
terms - is a π term
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 OUTLINE PROCEDURE
III. Any π term may be replaced by any power of
that term, including fractional powers.
π may be replaced by π1-1 π1½, π2 , etc.

IV. Any π terms may b replaced by multiplying by

a numerical constant.
π may be replaced by 3π or π.
V. π1 may be replaced by π, π2, π1/ π2, etc.
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