Dimensionless parameters

Various force ratios:

a) Reynolds number (Re): Inertia force/viscous force =

Significance:
i) Completely submerged flow (air planes, torpedo etc.)
ii) Completely submerged flow (air planes, for flow through pipes and plates)
iii) Viscous flow (settling of particles fluids) flow in flow meters in pipes (venturimeter,
Orifice meter etc.).
b) Froude Number(Fr) : Inertia force/gravity force = V/√g
Significance: For open channel flow where free surface is present, wave action as in
breakwaters and ships, hydraulic structures such as spillways, stilling basins, weirs and
notches, forces on Bridge piers and off shore structures.
c) Euler number (R): V / √ 2 dp/p.
It is derived from ratio of Inertia and pressure forces.
 Reciprocal of Euler number is called Newton number.
Significance: In cavitation studies, the pressure force is important in addition to the viscous
force, and the dynamic similarity will be obtained when the Reynolds and Euler numbers
are kept the same for model and prototype.

d) Cauchy number: Inertia force/Elastic force =

e) Mach number (M): Stream velocity / Acoustic velocity in the fluid medium =

Significance: For compressible flows, high speed flows, motion of objects like aero plane
and projectiles through air at supersonic speeds.

f) Weber Number (W): Inertia force/surface tension force =

Significance:
In formation of water droplet or bubbles, flows of shallow depth over spillways,
dams etc., for dynamic similarity to exist between a model and a prototype,

depending on the significance of various forces.