CE 5202

Section 1 Dimensional Analysis & Modelling

Department of Mechanical Engineering

University of Moratuwa

Dr. Chathura Ranasinghe

1. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Contents

Dimensions and units

Non-Dimensionalisation of equations
Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

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1. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Dimensions and Units

Dimension: A measure of a physical quantity (without numerical
values)
Unit: A way to assign a number to that dimension
length is a dimension measured in units such as feet (ft), centimeters (cm),
meters (m), kilometers (km)
Seven primary dimensions (fundamental or basic)

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Dimensions and Units

All non-primary dimensions can be formed by some combination
of the seven primary dimensions

Law of dimensional homogeneity

Every additive term in an equation must have the same dimensions

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Non-Dimensionalisation of Equations

If each term is divide by a collection of variables with same

dimensions that of the equation, the equation becomes
dimensionless

Another example

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Non-Dimensionalisation of Equations

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1. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Non-Dimensionalisation of Equations
Advantages of Non-dimensionalisation
Increases our insight about the relationships between key
parameters
Doubling has the same effect as decreasing by a factor of 4.

Reduces the number of parameters in the problem

For the present case from 5 to 3

Effect on experiments
Experimentally determine how the trajectory is affected by initial
conditions and and the gravitational acceleration
The above equation is valid for this problem
is the independent variable and is the dependent variable
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Non-Dimensionalisation of Equations
Advantages of Non-dimensionalisation
Effect on experiments Dimensional form
Keep and constant and find for different
Then keep and constant and find for different
Then keep andconstant and find for different

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1. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Non-Dimensionalisation of Equations
Advantages of Non-dimensionalisation
Effect on experiments Dimensional form
Keep and constant and find for different
Then keep and constant and find for different
Then keep andconstant and find for different

If each variable is varied 5 times, the complete experiment

would need 5x5x5 = 125 = 53 trials
Effect on experiments Non-Dimensional form
In the non-dimensional form we have only one variable - Fr
Thus, only 5 experiments !

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1. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Non-Dimensionalisation of Equations
Advantages of Non-dimensionalisation
Effect on experiments Non-Dimensional form
In the non-dimensional form we have only one variable - Fr
Thus, only 5 experiments !

Extrapolation to untested values

If the effect of gravitational acceleration
is to be tested
Choose and with the new value such
that your Fr is same

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Non-Dimensionalisation of Equations
Advantages of Non-dimensionalisation
Few other non dimensional numbers

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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Non-dimensionalization of an equation by inspectional
analysis is useful only if the equation is known to begin with
In real-life, equations are not known or too difficult to solve
often experimentation is the only method of obtaining reliable
information
In most experiments, to save time and money, tests are
performed on a geometrically scaled model, rather than on the
full-scale prototype
In such cases, care must be taken to properly scale the results.
Dimensional analysis is a powerful technique for this

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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Primary purposes of dimensional analysis

To generate non-dimensional parameters that help in the

design of experiments (physical and/or numerical) and in the
reporting of experimental results
To obtain scaling laws so that prototype performance can be
predicted from model performance
To (sometimes) predict trends in the relationship between
parameters

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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Principle of similarity
Geometric similarity Model must be the same shape as the
prototype, but may be scaled by some constant scale factor.

Kinematic similarity Velocity at any point in the model flow must

be proportional (by a constant scale factor) to the velocity at the
corresponding point in the prototype flow
Dynamic similarity Dynamic similarity is achieved when all forces
in the model flow scale by a constant factor to corresponding forces in
the prototype flow.

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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Principle of similarity
For complete geometric similarity surface roughness must also
be properly scaled
For kinematic similarity the velocity at corresponding points
must scale in magnitude and must point in the same direction
Geometric similarity is a prerequisite for kinematic similarity
Streamline pattern in the model flow is a geometrically scaled
copy of that in the prototype flow when kinematic similarity is
achieved
Kinematic similarity is a necessary but insufficient condition for
dynamic similarity
All three similarity conditions must exist for complete
similarity to be ensured ME 5002 15
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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Principle of similarity
Say that, a particular problem has k number of non-
dimensional numbers
One of those is the dependent variable, take it as
Then the function relationship becomes

If complete similarity is achieved between the model and the

prototype

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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Principle of similarity
Example
The aerodynamic drag of a new sports car is to be predicted at a
speed of 50.0 mi/h at an air temperature of 25C. Automotive
engineers build a one fifth scale model of the car to test in a wind
tunnel. It is winter and the wind tunnel is located in an unheated
building; the temperature of the wind tunnel air is only about 5C.
Determine how fast the engineers should run the wind tunnel in
order to achieve similarity between the model and the prototype.
1. Compressibility of the air is negligible
2. The wind tunnel walls are far enough away so as to not interfere with
the aerodynamic drag on the model car.
3. The model is geometrically similar to the prototype.
4. The wind tunnel has a moving belt to simulate the ground under the
car. moving belt is necessary in order to achieve kinematic similarity
everywhere in the flow, in particular underneath the car. 17
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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Principle of similarity
Example
For air at atmospheric pressure

0
C, kg/m3 and kg/ms

0
C, kg/m3 and kg/ms

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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Principle of similarity
Example
For this problem two dimensionless
groups can be identified

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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Principle of similarity
Example
At complete similarity between model
and the prototype

mi/h

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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Principle of similarity
Example
Several drag readings are recorded, and
the average drag force on the model is
21.2 lbf. Predict the aerodynamic drag
force on the prototype (at 50 mi/h and
25C)

lbf
if the density and viscosity of the air in the wind tunnel were identical to
those of the air flowing over the prototype, the two drag forces would be
identical ME 5002 21
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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Principle of similarity
Example
Suppose, for example, if a water tunnel is used instead of a wind tunnel to
test the one-fifth scale model. Using the properties of water at room
temperature find the velocity of water required.
16.1 mi/h

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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Principle of similarity
Similarity can be achieved even when the model fluid is
different than the prototype fluid. Here a submarine model is
tested in a wind tunnel

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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

The Method of Repeating Variables and the
Buckingham Pi Theorem
How to generate the non-dimensional parameters for given
problem
There are several methods developed, but the most popular
(and simplest) method is the method of repeating variables,
popularized by Edgar Buckingham (18671940)
The method was first published by the Russian scientist Dimitri
Riabouchinsky (18821962) in 1911
This method is a step-by-step procedure or recipe for
obtaining non-dimensional parameters

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1. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

The Method of Repeating Variables and the
Buckingham Pi Theorem

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1. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

The Method of Repeating Variables and the
Buckingham Pi Theorem

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1. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

The Method of Repeating Variables and the
Buckingham Pi Theorem

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1. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

The Method of Repeating Variables and the
Buckingham Pi Theorem

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1. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

The Method of Repeating Variables and the
Buckingham Pi Theorem

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1. DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

The Method of Repeating Variables and the
Buckingham Pi Theorem

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