Fluid Mechanics

Similitude
[8-2]

Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri

http://sites.google.com/site/mohammadnablus/Home

1 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Hydraulic Scale Models

 Hydraulic projects can be massive, expensive, and

complex

 Examples of such projects include dams, spillways,

culverts, and so on

 Even in relatively simple hydraulic projects it is often

impossible to predict the exact flow patterns and actual
dynamic forces and stresses on a hydraulic structure
without conducting a model study

 In more complex projects, models are almost mandatory

2 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Hydraulic Scale Models
 A model may be thought of as a prediction tool in which
the full-scale “prototype” is reproduced at another scale

 A prototype and its model are two similar physical

systems of different sizes

 The model is smaller in size

 Models are used to obtain efficient and satisfactory

designs

 Hydraulic models are powerful tools in design

3 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Hydraulic Scale Models
 Fluids different from those in prototypes may be used in
models

 Models may also be subject to different pressures. Hydraulic

models allow flexibility in testing prototypes under various
conditions to which they might be exposed

 The cost of building a model is relatively affordable, especially

for the information and benefits they provide

 The total cost of a hydraulic project may be increased by two

or even five percent, yet better designs can be achieved and
many problems can be avoided before the execution of
prototype projects
4 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity

 Three types of similarity should exist between a

prototype and its model in order to ensure that the
model is completely similar to and thus accurately
represents the prototype

 The main types of similarity are

 Geometric
 Kinematic
 Dynamic

5 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Geometric Similarity
 A model should be similar in shape to the prototype
(geometric replica)

 Any unspecialized person can recognize that the model is

just another version of the prototype but with a different
scale (generally smaller)

 All dimensions in the prototype are reduced by a fixed

factor called the scale ratio

 A 1/50 model means that each dimension in the model is

1/50 of that in the prototype
6 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Geometric Similarity
 Consider, for example, a ship with a length Lp, width Bp,
and a total depth of dp

 A model is to be built in the laboratory to test the

performance and ability of the ship to accommodate
lateral dynamic forces due to wave action

 The length, width, and total depth of the proposed

model are Lm, Bm, and dm, respectively

 In order to ensure the geometric similarity, the following

conditions should hold:
7 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Geometric Similarity

8 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Geometric Similarity

where L is the length ratio generally less than 1 and may

be small as 1/1000 or even less

 In the relations to be used in this section all quantities

with subscript p will correspond to prototype, those with
subscript m to model, and those subscript r to the ratios
of model to prototype quantities
 From the above equation one can deduce that:

9 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Geometric Similarity
where Ar is the area ratio, and Am and Ap are the areas of
model and prototype, respectively

 For the horizontal area, Am = LmBm and Ap = LpBp and for

the area in the vertical section, Am = Lmdm and Ap = Lpdp

 In a similar way, one can write:

10 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Geometric Similarity Example (1)

 A model for a huge circular water conduit is constructed.

The prototype has a diameter of 5 m and the roughness
height of its concrete wall, e, is 3 mm

 The model is built to a scale ratio of 1/10; it has a length

of 4 m

 Estimate the diameter, cross-sectional area, and

roughness height of the model and the length of the
prototype

11 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Geometric Similarity Example (1)

12 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Geometric Similarity Example (2)

 A prototype of a volume of 1000 m3 is investigated by a

hydraulic model 1 m3 in volume

 If the length of the model is 2.25 m, what is the length of

the prototype?

13 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Geometric Similarity Example (2)

14 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Kinematic Similarity

 Kinematic similarity is defined as the similarity of motion

between two geometrically similar systems (prototype
and model)

 It requires that the shape of the stream lines at any time

and for any two corresponding points is the same in both
systems

 Geometric similarity does not ensure kinematic

similarity, but kinematic similarity does ensure geometric
similarity
15 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Kinematic Similarity
 The velocity ratio between any two corresponding points
in two kinematically similar systems should be constant

 The same is true for discharge, acceleration, time,

kinematic viscosity, and all other parameters involving
time in their dimensions

 For kinematically similar systems, one can write:

16 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity

 Dynamic similarity is defined as the similarity of forces of

two kinematically similar systems

 The two systems must therefore be geometrically similar

 Motion is caused by the action of one or more forces.

Forces accelerate or decelerate fluid particles or
maintain their constant velocity against viscous and/or
frictional forces which tend to bring moving particles to
rest

17 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity

 This relation between forces and motion requires that

the force action in the model must be identical to that in
the prototype

 The ratio of any two forces acting in the model must be

equal to the ratio of the corresponding two forces acting
in the prototype

18 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity

 In general, three types of forces act on a hydraulic

system:
 (1) external forces such as the gravity force or force
due to pressure head in pipes and so on
 (2) internal forces involving physical characteristics of
the fluid itself such as viscous force and surface
tension force
 (3) resultant forces, such as drag force on a moving
body in a fluid or pressure force on hydraulic
structures

19 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity

 The ratio between two different types of forces in two

dynamically similar systems (model and prototype) must
be constant

 Assuming that FI, Fg Fv, Fσ, Fp, and Fe are the inertia force,
gravity force, viscous force, surface tension force,
pressure force, and elastic force, respectively, then one
can write

20 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity

 Regardless of the specific type of the force, its

dimensions are equivalent to the dimensions of mass (M)
multiplied by acceleration (a)

 Therefore,

21 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity
 The work (W) is dimensionally equal to the force
multiplied by distance. Therefore

 The power (P) is dimensionally equal to the force

multiplied by velocity. Therefore,

 The pressure (p) is dimensionally equal to the force

divided by the area. Therefore,

 The specific weight (γ) is dimensionally equal to the force

or weight divided by volume. Therefore

22 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (1)

 A 1:10 scale model is constructed for a hydraulic

structure. Determine the ratios of force and pressure

 If the force and pressure on the model are equal to 1.9

kN and 500 N/m2, respectively, what are the
corresponding values in the prototype? Assume the
same fluid is used in both the model and prototype

23 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (1)

24 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (2)

 The force required to tow a 1:25 model of a boat at a

speed of 2.5 m/s is 0.6 N. What are the corresponding
speed and force in the prototype?

 If 20 seconds are required by the model to fulfill certain

maneuvers, what is the corresponding time in the
prototype?

25 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (2)

26 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (3)

 A model is built for a spillway to a scale of 1:20. The

discharge over the spillway is expected to be 1200 m3/s
under a head of 3 m

 What are the corresponding values of discharge and

head in the laboratory?

 If the horsepower dissipated by the hydraulic jump in the

model is 0.75 HP, what would be the horsepower
dissipated in the prototype?

27 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (3)

28 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (4)

 A 1:10 model for a submarine is tested in the laboratory.

The submarine is required to be tested when it operates
50 m below the seawater level and moves at a velocity of
12 mph

 What are the corresponding depth and velocity for the

model knowing that Vr between the water used in the
model and seawater is 0.95?

29 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (4)

30 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (5)
 A model is built to determine the energy loss in a pipeline 1.2
m in diameter and 10 km in length. The pipe conveys a liquid
of a density of 0.8 g/cm3 and a dynamic viscosity of 0.02 poise
at a rate of 1.8 m3/s.

 Tests are conducted on a 12-cm-diameter pipe using

freshwater at 20°C (ρ = 0.998 g/cm3, μ = 0.01 poise). The
head loss in a length of 20 m of the model is 150 cm

 Evaluate the model discharge and the head loss in the entire
pipe.

 If the pressure at a certain point in the model is 700 kN/m2,

what is the corresponding pressure in the actual pipe?
31 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (5)

32 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (5)

33 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Types of Similarity
Dynamic Similarity Example (5)

34 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Dynamic Similarity: Common Forces

35 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis
 Examples

 Question 8.31
 Question 8.33
 Question 8.45

36 [8] Fall – 2012 – Fluid Mechanics Dr. Mohammad N. Almasri [-] Dimensional Analysis