CIVL2611 Introductory Fluid Mechanics

CIVL9611 Introductory Fluid Mechanics

Tutorial 9. Dimensional Analysis

(The problems marked with

will be explained at tutorials.)

1.

The pressure drop, p, along a straight pipe of diameter D has been experimentally
studied, and it is observed for laminar flow of a given fluid and pipe, the pressure drop
varies directly with the distance l between pressure taps. Assume that the pressure drop
is a function of D and l, the velocity V, and the fluid viscosity . Apply the
Buckingham theorem procedures to determine how the pressure drop p varies with
the diameter D.

2.

The velocity c at which pressure pulses travel through arteries (pulse-wave velocity) is a
function of the artery diameter D, the wall thickness h, the density of blood , and the
modulus of elasticity E of the arterial wall. Apply the Buckingham theorem
procedures to determine a set of non-dimensional parameters that can be used to study
experimentally the relationship between the pulse-wave velocity and the listed variables.

3.

A thin elastic wire is placed between rigid supports. A fluid flows past the wire, and it is
desired to study the static deflection d at the center of the wire due to the fluid drag.
Assume that
d = f ( , d , , , V , E )
where l is the length of the wire, d is the diameter of the wire, and are the density and
viscosity of the fluid, V is the fluid velocity, and E is the modulus of elasticity. Apply
the Buckingham theorem procedures to develop a suitable set of dimensionless
variables for this problem.

4.

When a small tube is dipped into a pool of liquid, surface tension causes a meniscus to
form at the free surface in the tube as shown below. The free surface is elevated or
depressed depending on the contact angle at the liquid-solid-gas interface. It is expected
that the rise h will depend on the surface tension of the liquid , the tube diameter D, the
fluid density , the contact angle , and the gravity g. The dimension of is MT2 and
is dimensionless.
h

Develop an appropriate set of non-dimensional groups and write down the functional
form of the relationship that links the height of the rise to the other variables.