Chapter 5.

4
Dimensionless Parameters
Many variables may be important in a fluid mechanics problem.

g = gravitational acceleration
ρ = fluid density
μ = fluid viscosity
P = fluid pressure
Li = characteristic length of system
V = characteristic velocity of system
ω = frequency of oscillating flow
σ = surface tension
c = speed of sound
EV = bulk modulus

When analyzing problems, certain dimensionless combinations of variables (pi

terms) appear over and over and over and …

3
Reynolds Number (Re):
rVL inertial force
Re = =
µ viscous force

Arises in flows where viscous effects are important.

If Re is very low, viscous effects play a large role in determining flow patterns.

If Re is very large, viscous effects play a small role in determining flow patterns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51-6QCJTAjU
(Skip to 2:55. A comparison of flows with different Re is shown at 4:50.)

4
Euler Number (Eu):
P pressure force DP DP
Eu = = or or
rV 2
inertial force rV 2
0.5rV 2
(pressure coefficient)

Arises when a pressure drop becomes important.

Pr - Pv
= cavitation number Pr = reference pressure
0.5rV 2

Eu is used to characterize losses in flow.

Eu = 1 for frictionless flows.

(ΔP goes into kinetic energy without loss.)

5
Froude Number (Fr):

V inertial force speed of fluid

Fr = = =
gL gravitational force speed of waves
Arises in flows with a free surface.
• flow around partially submerged objects (e.g., ships)
• river and open conduits flow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_jump

Subcritical flow (Fr < 1) is slow and calm.

Supercritical flow (Fr > 1) is rapid and chaotic. 6
Weber Number (We)
rV 2 L inertial force
We = =
σ surface tension force
High We
Arises in flows with an interface.
• flow of thin films of liquid
• formation of droplets or bubbles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weber_number

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBe6JXbPM-o

7
Strouhal Number (St):
ωL inertial forces due to local acceleration (unsteadiness)
St = =
V inertial forces due to convective acceleration
Arises in unsteady, oscillating flow problems.

Oscillating flow may occur downstream from a solid body.

vortex shedding:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hbbkd2d3H8
(for cylinders, strongest shedding when 60 < Re < 5000)

This can lead to wires “singing”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zHh2VSHhhA

Strakes on chimneys induce turbulence and help prevent vortex shedding.

8
http://www.freefoto.com/preview/13-02-74/Chimney-Stack-and-Drifting-Steam
Be careful when designing tall buildings!

Softening corners, tapering, varying cross section, twisting, adding spoilers, and
creating openings help reduce vortex shedding.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Khalifa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei_101 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/151_Incheon_Tower

(est. completion date: 2015) 9
von Karman vortex streets observed in nature.

http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=52702 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n_vortex_street
(Guadalupe Island, May–September) (Hallasan Volcano, Jeju Island, South Korea, October–April)

http://climate.nasa.gov/news/2218/
10
Cauchy Number (Ca) & Mach Number (Ma)

rV 2 inertial force
Ca = =
EV compressibility force
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Main_Engine

Arises in flows when compressibility becomes important.

r V
Ma = Ca = V =
EV c

EV
c= = speed of sound
r http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mach_number

The incompressible flow assumption is okay when Ma < 0.3.

11
Derivation
• These common dimensionless groups arise naturally from non-
dimensionalizing the Navier-Stokes equations.

$% $") $") $") $) $) $) $)

!"! − +( "
+ "+ " =! +) +. +/
$& $& $* $+ $- $& $* $+

$% $". $". $". $. $. $. $.

!"# − +( "
+ "+ " =! +) +. +/
$* $& $* $+ $- $& $* $+
 $% $") $") $") $) $) $) $)
!"! − +( + + = ! + ) + . + /
Consider 2D flow (neglect variations in z). $& $& " $* " $+ " $- $& $* $+

Simplify to:

#! &'∗ *+ & # ,∗ & # ,∗ /+ # &,∗ ∗

&, ∗
∗
&, ∗
−( ) ∗ + # + = + , + 1
$ &( $ &( ∗ # &- ∗ # $ &0 ∗ &( ∗ &- ∗

#! &'∗ * & # ,∗ & # ,∗ &,∗ ∗

&, ∗
∗
&, ∗
−( # ) ∗ + + = + , + 1
/+ &( /+$ &( ∗ # &- ∗ # &0 ∗ &( ∗ &- ∗

Similarly in the y direction:

#! &'∗ 2$ * & # ,∗ & # ,∗ &,∗ ∗

&, ∗
∗
&, ∗
− − + + = + , + 1
#
/+ &- ∗ + /+$ &( ∗ # &- ∗ # &0 ∗ &( ∗ &- ∗
1 1 1
Eu Fr 2 Re

• Boundary conditions would give additional dimensionless terms (e.g., We).

• If a model is tested at the same dimensionless parameters as the full-
sized object will operate at, results from a modeling study can be
applied to the real object.

• The summary of common dimensionless groups in Fluid Mechanics is

listed in Table 5.2