31-Dec-17

Fluid Mechanics - I
Chapter

07
➢Dimensional Analysis Dr Muhammad Sajid
Assistant Professor
➢Similitude
NUST, SMME.
Email: m.sajid@smme.nust.edu.pk
Tel: 9085 6065

Reference Text:
Fundamentals of Fluid
Mechanics, 6th Ed
By Munson, Young, Okiishi
and Huebsch
© 2011 Sajid

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Introduction
➢The majority of real fluids problems do not have
analytical solutions therefore experimental work
plays a vital role in the study of fluid mechanics.
➢Before setting up an experiment, it is important
to identify all dimensionless parameters that
govern a problem, and obtain an expression to
relate those parameters.
➢Dimensional analysis is a method used to
minimize the time and expenses spent on
experiments and obtain information from the
fewest number of experiments possible.

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Dimensional Analysis
➢Few fluid mechanics problems can be solved
analytically, while many require experiments.
➢Example: The study of pressure drop (p) in a
converging duct, as function of velocity (V1)
and diameter (d0). p1
p0
V1 V0
A0
A1
➢It involves five variables p, r, V1, d1, do

Fluid Mechanics - I 3
p1
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p0
Dimensional Analysis V1
A1 A0
V0

➢Using Bernoullis equation between the sections

r   d 4 
r
V2 V2
p1  r 1  p0  r 0  p 
2
V
0
2
V
1
2
  p  V   1   1
2   d0 
1
2

2 2  
➢To find a relationship f b/w p
and V1 & d0, we will have to
perform many experiments
with different values of V1 &
d0 and plot the data.
➢Rearranging our equation..
d 
4
p d 
1   1   1  C p  f  1 
2 rV1
2
 d0   d0 

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Fluid Mechanics - I 4
p1
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p0
Dimensional Analysis V1
A1 A0
V0

➢ The initial five

parameters: p, r, V1,
d1, do are reduced to
two dimensionless
parameters p/(rV2/2)
and (d1/do).
➢It is much easier to
establish functional
relations with two
parameters, than five.

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Dimensional Analysis
➢Dimensional analysis is a process of formulating
fluid mechanics problems in terms of non-
dimensional variables and parameters.

Buckinghams  theorem
➢Physical laws are independent of the form of the
units. Therefore, acceptable laws of physics are
homogeneous in all dimensions.
➢In a physical problem including n dimensional
variables in which there are k dimensions, the
variables can be arranged into r = n – k independent
nondimensional parameters r

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Fluid Mechanics - I 8

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Dimensional Analysis
Step 1:
➢Identify all independent parameters for the
system or study. These parameters include
➢Fluid properties (e.g., density, viscosity and surface
tension),
➢System geometry (e.g., length, area and volume) or
➢Flow conditions (e.g., velocity, pressure change and
applied force).

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Dimensional Analysis
Step 2:
➢Determine the number of basic dimensions
(MLT). Quantity Dimensions Quantity Dimensions
Acceleration LT -2 Power ML2T -3
Angular Velocity T -1 Pressure ML-1T -2
Area L2 Surface Tension MT -2
Mass Density ML-3 Velocity LT -1
Weight Density ML-2T -2 Viscosity ML-1T -1
Force (weight) MLT -2 Volume L3
Kinematic
L2T -1 Volume Flowrate L3T -1
Viscosity
Length L Work, Energy ML2T -2
Mass M

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Fluid Mechanics - I 10

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Dimensional Analysis
Step 3:
➢Determine the number of dimensionless
parameters (pi terms, denoted by Π).
➢According to the Buckingham  theorem, the
number of pi terms is equal to (n-k) where
➢n is the number of independent parameters involved
(determined in step 1) and
➢k is the number of basic dimensions involved
(determined in step 2).
➢Hence, for a given system, one can write
➢Π1 = function (Π2, Π3, ..., Πn-k)

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Dimensional Analysis
Step 4:
➢From the list of parameters determined in step 1,
select k number of repeating parameters.
➢These repeating parameters must include all the
basic dimensions, but they cannot be
dimensionless or have the same basic dimensions
➢ Example: Do not include both L (length) and L3 (volume) as
repeating parameters.
➢In other words, the repeating parameters cannot
form dimensionless parameters by themselves.

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Dimensional Analysis
➢The pi terms are then formed by multiplying the
remaining parameters with the repeating
parameters raised to a certain power.
➢The exponents of the repeating parameters are
determined such that the pi terms are
dimensionless.
➢Once the pi terms are determined, this
concludes the dimensional analysis.
➢Experiments can then be conducted to find a
correlation among the pi terms.

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Dimensional Analysis Example

➢Consider fluid flow in a circular pipe.
Step 1:
➢The parameters that are involved in the pipe flow
problem are
➢ pressure drop (Δp),
➢ pipe length (l),
➢ pipe diameter (D),
➢ fluid velocity (V),
➢ fluid density (ρ),
➢ fluid viscosity (μ) and
➢ pipe surface roughness (ε).
➢A total of 7 parameters (n = 7) is involved in this
problem.

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Fluid Mechanics - I 14

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Dimensional Analysis Example
Step 2:
➢The basic dimensions involved are.
Quantity Symbol MLT
Pressure Drop Δp ML-1T-2

Pipe Length l L

Pipe Diameter D L

Fluid Velocity V LT -1

Fluid Density ρ ML-3

Fluid Viscosity μ ML-1T-1

Pipe Surface Roughness ε L

➢All three of the basic dimensions, M, L, and T

(k = 3) are involved in this problem.

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Dimensional Analysis Example

Step 3:
➢According to the Buckingham  theorem, the
number of pi terms is 4 (n - k = 7 - 3 = 4).
Step 4:
➢The next task is to determine the form of the pi
terms. Select the pipe diameter (D), fluid velocity
(V) and density (ρ) as the repeating parameters.
➢The pi terms are then given by:
Π1 = ΔpDa1Vb1ρc1
Π2 = lDa2Vb2ρc2
Π3 = μDa3Vb3ρc3
Π4 = εDa4Vb4ρc4

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Dimensional Analysis Example
➢The exponents of the dimension of the first 
term are :
➢Π1 = ΔpDa1Vb1ρc1 = (ML-1T-2)(L)a1(LT-1)b1(ML-3)c1
➢Π1 = M(1 + c1) L(-1 + a1 + b1 - 3c1) T(-2 - b1)

➢In order for Π1 to be dimensionless:

➢M: 1 + c1 = 0,  c1 = -1
➢T: -2 - b1 = 0,  b1 = -2
➢L: -1 + a1 + b1 -3c1 = 0 ,
 a1 = 3(-1) - (-2) + 1 = 0
➢Hence, Π1 is determined to be Δp/ρV2.

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Dimensional Analysis Example

➢Since the basic dimension for the pipe length l
is L, by inspection, the second pi term is given
by (a2 = -1, b2 = 0 and c2 = 0):
➢ Π2 = l/D

➢Similarly, the last pi term is given by (a4 = -1,

b4 = 0 and c4 = 0):
➢ Π4 = ε/D

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Fluid Mechanics - I 18

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Dimensional Analysis Example
➢The exponents of the third pi terms are
determined as follows:
➢ Π3 = μDa3Vb3ρc3= (ML-1T-1)(L)a3(LT-1)b3(ML-3)c3
= M(1 + c3) L(-1 + a3 + b3 - 3c3) T(-1 - b3)
➢In order for Π3 to be dimensionless:
➢ M: 1 + c3 = 0
c3 = -1
➢ T: -1 - b3 = 0
b3 = -1
➢ L: -1 + a3 + b3 -3c3 = 0
a3 = 3(-1) - (-1) + 1 = -1
➢Hence, Π3 is determined to be μ/ρDV

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Dimensional Analysis Example

➢Recognizing that the inverse of the pi term is also
dimensionless, the third pi term can also be written
as ρDV/μ, which is the Reynolds number (Re).
➢For flow in a circular pipe, the pressure drop is then
given by: Δp/ρV2 = function(l/D, ε/D, Re)
➢Flow in a circular pipe can be solved with the aid of
data obtained from experiments where the friction
factor is a function of
➢ the entrance length (l/D),
➢ relative roughness of the pipe (ε/D) and
➢ the Reynolds number (Re).

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Dimensional Analysis Application
➢Moody Diagram for pipe friction factor.

Fluid Mechanics - I

Example problem
The force F on a body immersed in a flowing fluid depends
on: L, V, r, and 
F  f ( L,V , r ,  )  1   ( LaV b r c )
n=5 No. of dimensional parameters
k=3 No. of dimensions M 0 L0T 0  ( ML1T 1 )( L) a ( LT 1 ) b ( ML3 ) c
n - k = 2 No. of dimensionless parameters M: 0  1 c
 c  1
F L V r 
L: 0  1  a  b  3c
MLT-2 L LT-1 ML-3 ML-1T-1  a  1
T: 0  1  b
Select L, V, and r as repeating variables  b  1
and combine these with the remaining  rVL
1  or 1   
variables F &  to form the π terms. LVr 
Reynolds number

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Fluid Mechanics - I

Example problem
F L V r 
MLT-2 L LT-1 ML-3 ML-1T-1

 2  F ( LaV b r c ) L: 0  1  a  b  3c
 a  2
M 0 L0T 0  ( MLT 2 )( L) a ( LT 1 ) b ( ML3 ) c F
2 
M: 0  1 c L V 2r
2

 c  1 and  2  f ( 1 )
F
 f ()
T: 0  2  b rV 2 L2
 b  2 Dimensionless force is a function of the
Reynolds number

Fluid Mechanics - I

Problem
Find the drag force on a rough sphere as a function of its Diameter D and
fluid properties r, , V and k[m].
FD  f ( D, r ,  , V , k )
n=6 No. of dimensional parameters
k=3 No. of dimensions
n - k = 3 No. of dimensionless parameters
FD D r  V k T: 0  1  b
MLT-2 L ML-3 ML-1T-1 LT-1 L  b  1
L: 0  1  a  b  3c
Select D, V, and r as repeating variables and
combine these with the nonrepeating variables:  a  1
FD,  & k to form the π terms
 1   ( D aV b r c ) 
1 
DVr
M 0 L0T 0  ( ML1T 1 )( L) a ( LT 1 ) b ( ML3 ) c
rVD
M: 0  1 c  c  1 or 1   


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Fluid Mechanics - I

r 
Problem
FD D V k
MLT-2 L ML-3 ML-1T-1 LT-1 L

Combine the “repeating” variables D,  3  FD ( D aV b r c )

V, and r with the remaining
nonrepeating variables FD & k to find M 0 L0T 0  ( MLT 2 )
the remaining π terms.
 2  k ( D aV b r c )  ( L) a ( LT 1 ) b ( ML3 ) c
M 0 L0T 0  ( L)( L) a ( LT 1 ) b ( ML3 ) c M : 0  1 c
 c  1
M: 0c T: 0  2  b
 c0
T: 0  b  b  2
 b0 L : 0  1  a  b  3c
 a  2
L: 0  1  a  b  3c FD
 a  1 3 
rV 2 D 2 FD rVD k
k  f( , )
2  rV 2 2
D  D
D

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