Dimensional Analysis

19 February 2021

Book: Solving Problems in Fluid Mechanics, Volume 2, 3rd ed.,

J.F Douglas & R.D Matthews
Dimensional Analysis: Content

• Part 1: Is the equation mathematically plausible?

• Part 2: Equate Indices of fundamental quantities

• Part 3: Buckingham’s Pi theorem

H/R
Dimensional Analysis: Part 2
Equate Indices of fundamental quantities
Problem: Thrust of screw propeller

Assuming that the thrust of a screw propeller is dependent upon the diameter d, speed of
advance v, fluid density r, revolutions per second n and coefficient of viscosity m.

Show that it can be expressed by the equation:

2 −2 𝜇 𝑑𝑛
𝐹 = 𝜌𝑑 𝑣 ∅ ,
𝜌𝑑𝑣 𝑣
 Dimensional Analysis: Part 2
Equate Indices of fundamental quantities

Solution: F, will be a function of d, v, r, n and m. Instead of expanding this function fully, we can make
use of the fact that we have similar terms. So,

𝐹 = σ 𝐴𝑑 𝑚 𝑣 𝑝 𝜌𝑞 𝑛𝑟 𝜇 𝑠 (e.q 1)

Where A is a numerical constant and m, p, r and s are unknown powers.

The dimensions of the variables are:

F = 𝑀𝐿𝑇 −2 , 𝑑 = 𝐿 , 𝑣 = 𝐿𝑇 −1 , 𝜌 = 𝑀𝐿−3 , 𝑛 = 𝑇 −1 , 𝜇 = 𝑀𝐿−1 𝑇 −1

Substituting the dimensions for the variables, equations (e.q 1) will be true if,

𝑀𝐿𝑇 −2 = 𝐿𝑚 x 𝐿𝑝 𝑇 −𝑝 x 𝑀𝑞 𝐿−3𝑞 x 𝑇 −𝑟 x 𝑀 𝑠 𝐿−𝑠 𝑇 −𝑠

 Dimensional Analysis: Part 2
Equate Indices of fundamental quantities
Equating powers of
M: 1=𝑞+𝑠
L: 1 = 𝑚 + 𝑝 + 3𝑞 − 𝑠
T: −2 = −𝑝 − 𝑟 − 𝑠

The equation given in the problem indicates that it is desirable to solve for m, p and q in terms of r and s.
Why? p and/or q appears in all three equations.
𝑞 =1−𝑠
𝑝=2−𝑟−𝑠
So:
𝑚 = 1 − 𝑝 + 3𝑞 + 𝑠 = 2 + 𝑟 − 𝑠

Substitute into equation (eq. 1)

𝐹 = ෍ 𝐴𝑑 2+𝑟−𝑠 𝑣 2−𝑟−𝑠 𝜌1−𝑠 𝑛𝑟 𝜇 𝑠
 Dimensional Analysis: Part 2
Equate Indices of fundamental quantities
Regrouping by powers:
𝑠 𝑟
2 2
𝜇 𝑑𝑛
𝐹 = ෍ 𝐴𝜌𝑑 𝑣
𝜌𝑑𝑣 𝑣
Which can be written:
𝜇 𝑑𝑛
𝐹 = 𝐴𝜌𝑑 2 𝑣 2 ∅ ,
𝜌𝑑𝑣 𝑣

Where ∅ means “a function of”.