KIL1006 1. What are the drawbacks of method of repeating variables to perform dimensional analysis?

Suggest another method that can overcome the drawbacks.

TUTORIAL 3 2. Determine the nondimensional relationship for a power input to a pump, 𝑃 which is a
Dimensional Analysis function of;
i. Volume flow rate to the pump, 𝑉ሶ
ii. Pump impeller diameter, 𝐷
iii. Rotational rate, 𝜔
iv. Fluid density, 𝜌
v. Fluid viscosity, 𝜇

3. When a fluid flow past a cylindrical body, flow separation occurs in which vortices are
shed from the top and bottom of the body alternately as shown in Figure 3 where A and C
represent the vortices from top side while B represents the vortices from the bottom side of
the body. The frequency of the vortex shedding, 𝑓𝑣 is a function of the incoming velocity 𝑢,
cylinder diameter 𝐷, density 𝜌 and viscosity 𝜇 of the fluid. Find the nondimensional
relationship of 𝑓𝑣 and what is the significance of it.

Figure 3: Flow past a cylindrical body

 4. The volumetric flow rate 𝑉ሶ in a laminar flow as shown in Figure 4 is only a function of the
KIL1006 pipe diameter 𝐷, fluid viscosity 𝜇 and the pressure different which in this horizontal flow
case is the axial pressure different 𝑑𝑃Τ𝑑𝑥. With dimensional analysis, we can quickly
TUTORIAL 3 estimate the changes of the dependent variables with any change of the influencing
parameter. For this problem, use dimensional analysis to determine by what factor the 𝑉ሶ
Dimensional Analysis
will increase if the only the pipe diameter is doubled.
𝑃1 𝑃2

𝑉
𝐷 𝜌, 𝜇

Figure 4: Laminar flow in a pipe

5. Consider a Couette flow where fluid flow in between two parallel plates separated by a
distance ℎ. The top plate is moving at speed 𝑆 while the bottom plate remains stationary as
shown in Figure 5. From dimensional analysis, find the nondimensional relationship of the
velocity 𝑢 as function of fluid viscosity 𝜇, top plate speed 𝑆, plate distance ℎ, fluid density
𝜌 and the vertical distance 𝑦. States your assumptions.
Moving plate with speed 𝑆

𝑢
ℎ 𝜌, 𝜇

Figure 5: Couette flow

Stationary plate