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2012

Problem :
Consider the steady flow of an incompressible Newtonian fluid through a long,
Chapter 7 smooth-walled, horizontal, circular pipe. An important characteristic of this system,
which would be of interest to an engineer designing a pipeline, is the pressure drop
per unit length that develops along the pipe as a result of friction. Although this would
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS, appear to be a relatively simple flow problem, it cannot generally be solved analytically
«even with the aid of large computers» without the use of experimental data.

Similitude and Modeling

MCH3002 Intr to Fluid Mechanics

BUCKINGHAM-PI THEOREM

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DETERMINATION OF PI PARAMETERS
1- List all the variables that are involved in the problem.

We are using the term “variable” to include any quantity, including dimensional and non
dimensional constants, which play a role in the phenomenon under investigation. All such
quantities should be included in the list of “variables” to be considered for the dimensional
analysis. The determination of the variables must be accomplished by the experimenter’s
knowledge of the problem and the physical laws that govern the phenomenon. Typically the
variables will include those that are necessary to describe the geometry of the system «such as
a pipe diameter», to define any fluid properties «such as a fluid viscosity», and to indicate
external effects that influence the system «such as a driving pressure drop per unit length».

These general classes of variables are intended as broad categories that should be helpful in
identifying variables. It is likely, however, that there will be variables that do not fit easily into
one of these categories, and each problem needs to be carefully analyzed.

EXAMPLE :

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Example

Common Dimensionless Groups

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Experimental Testing and Incomplete Similarity

• One of the most useful applications of dimensional analysis is

in designing physical and/or numerical experiments, and in
reporting the results.
• Setup of an experiment and correlation of data.

• Consider a problem with 5 parameters:

one dependent and 4 independent.
• Full test matrix with 5 data points for
each independent parameter would
require 54=625 experiments!!
• If we can reduce to 2 's, the number of
independent parameters is reduced from
4 to 1, which results in 51=5 experiments
vs. 625!!

Experimental Testing and Incomplete Similarity Experimental Testing and Incomplete Similarity
Wanapum Dam on Columbia River DDG-51 Destroyer
• Flows with free surfaces present unique • For ship hydrodynamics, Fr similarity is
challenges in achieving complete dynamic maintained while Re is allowed to be
similarity. different.
• For hydraulics applications, depth is very • Why? Look at complete similarity:
small in comparison to horizontal
dimensions. If geometric similarity is
used, the model depth would be so small
Physical Model at that other issues would arise
Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research
– Surface tension effects (Weber number) 1/20th scale model
would become important. • To match both Re and Fr, viscosity in the
– Data collection becomes difficult. model test is a function of scale ratio! This is
• Distorted models are therefore employed, not feasible.
which requires empirical
corrections/correlations to extrapolate
model data to full scale.