The Vaschy-Buckingham theorem states that if in case of a physical phenomenon the number

of variables involved is n and if the number of fundamental dimensions (M, L and T) are m,
one can grouped the n variables in (n – m) dimensionless parameters (Pi).
Let G1, G2, ..., Gi,…Gn physical quantities involved in the phenomenon, such as for example
flow rate, roughness, pressure gradient, diameter, viscosity, density, ... If it is certain that all
these quantities involved in the phenomenon, there must be a functional relationship between
them which can be written symbolically as follows:
F( G1, G2,…,Gi,…Gn) = 0
If p 1 , p 2 ,..., p n - m are the dimensionless parameters formed by G1, G2, ..., Gi, ..., Gn, there
must exist between these parameters a functional relationship that can be written symbolically
as follows:
f (p 1 , p 2 ,..., p n - m ) = 0
The method for determining dimensionless parameters p is to choose m variables G
composed by m fundamental dimensions and use them as repeated variables, each time with
another quantity G for each of Pi (The chosen m quantities do not form a p ). For example, let
G1, G2 and G3 of variables composed by M, L and T, not necessarily each variable formed by
M, L and T, but so that in all of G1, G2 and G3 involved the three fundamental dimensions M,
L and T. Then the parameters p will be formed by the following expressions:
p 1 = G1x1 G2y1 G3z1 G4
p 2 = G1x2 G2y2 G3z2 G5
……………………
p i = G1xi G2yi G3zi Gm +i
…………………….
p n - m = G1xn-m G2yn-m G3zn-m Gn
In these equations, exponents xi, yi and zi must be such that each p is dimensionless. Each
variable G is now replaced by its fundamental dimensions (eg G1 is a dynamic viscosity, so it
must be replaced by ML-1T-1, G2 is a diameter, we must replace it with L, …and so on).
Exponents xi, yi and yi must have their values as the algebraic sum of the exponents of each
of the fundamental dimensions M, L and T is zero. This condition provides three equations
with three unknowns for each parameter Pi.

Example:

Give the expression of the flow rate per unit width of a rectangular weir. The liquid is of
density r , dynamic viscosity is m and surface tension is s . The height of the weir is P and
the head above the weir crest is H. The repeated variables are: r , g and H.
f1 ( q, g , H , r , m , s , P ) = 0

q : L2T -1 , g : LT -2 , H : L , r : ML-3 , m : ML-1T -1 , s : MT -2 , P : L

p 1 = r x1 g y1 H z1 q = ( ML-3 ) ( LT ) Lz1 ( L2T -1 ) = M 0 L0T 0
x1 -2 y1

M : x1 = 0
L : - 3 x1 + y1 + z1 + 2 = 0
T : - 2 y1 - 1 = 0 � y1 = -1/ 2
so : z1 = -3 / 2
 q
Then : p1 =
g H 3/2
1/2

p 2 = r x2 g y2 H z2 m = ( ML-3 ) ( LT ) Lz2 ( ML-1T -1 ) = M 0 L0T 0

x2 -2 y2

M : x2 = -1
L : - 3x2 + y2 + z2 - 1 = 0
T : - 2 y2 - 1 = 0 � y2 = -1/ 2
so : z2 = -3 / 2
m
Then : p 2 =
r g H 3/2
1/2

p 3 = r x3 g y3 H z3 s = ( ML-3 ) ( LT ) Lz3 ( MT -2 ) = M 0 L0T 0

x3 -2 y3

M : x3 = -1
L : - 3 x3 + y3 + z3 = 0
T : - 2 y3 - 2 = 0 � y3 = -1
so : z3 = -2
s
Then : p 3 =
r gH 2
p 4 = r x4 g y4 H z4 P = ( ML-3 ) ( LT ) Lz4 ( L ) = M 0 L0T 0
x4 -2 y4

M : x4 = 0
L : - 3x4 + y4 + z4 + 1 = 0
T : - 2 y 4 = 0 � y4 = 0
so : z4 = -1
P
Then : p4 =
H
� q m s P�
f 2 � 1/2 3/2 , 1/2 3/2 , , �= 0
�g H rg H r gH H �
2

Then

q � m s P �
= f 3 � 1/2 3/2 , , �= 0
�r g H r gH H
1/2
3/2 2
g H �

Or else :
� m s P�
q = g 1/2 H 3/2 f 3 � 1/2 3/2 , , �
�r g H r gH H �
2