FLUID MECHANICS

DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
4th Semester
Mechanical Engineering

Prof. M. K. SINHA
Mechanical Engineering Department
N I T Jamshedpur 831014
 Definition

Dimensional analysis is a means of simplifying a physical

problem by appealing to dimensional homogeneity to
reduce the number of relevant variables.
It is useful for:
• presenting and interpreting experimental data;
• attacking problems not amenable to a direct theoretical
solution;
• checking equations;
• establishing the relative importance of particular physical
phenomena;
• physical modelling.
 Dimensions
• A dimension is the type of measure by which something is
quantified.
• A unit is a means of fitting a numerical value to that
quantity.
• SI units are preferred in scientific and engineering works.
FUNDAMENTAL DIMENSIONS
In fluid mechanics the fundamental or primary
dimensions, together with their SI units are:
• Mass M (kilogram, kg)
• Length L (metre, m)
• Time T (second, s)
• Temperature Θ (kelvin, K)
 Additional dimensions
In physics additional dimensions, together with
their SI units are:
• Electric current I (ampere, A)
• Luminous intensity C (candela, cd)
• Amount of substance n (mole, mol)
 Derived dimensions
Quantity Symbol/s Dimensions

Geometry Area A L2

Volume V L3

Second moment of area I L4

Kinematics Velocity U LT-1
Angle θ none
Angular velocity ω T-1
Quantity of flow Q L3T-1
Mass flow rate m. MT-1
 Derived dimensions
Quantity Symbol/s Dimensions
Dynamics Force F MLT-2
Moment ,Torque T ML2T-2
Energy, Work, Heat E, W ML2T-2
Power P ML2T-3
Pressure, Stress P, 𝛕 ML-1T-2
Fluid properties Density ρ ML-3
Viscosity µ ML-1T-1
Kinematic viscosity ν L2T-1
Surface tension σ MT-2
Thermal conductivity k MLT-3 Θ-1
Specific heat cp, cv L2T-2 Θ-1
Bulk modulus K ML-1T-2
 Alternative choices for
fundamental dimensions
The choice of fundamental dimensions is not
unique.
It is not uncommon and it may sometimes be
more convenient to choose force F as a
fundamental dimension rather than
Mass M, and have a {FLT} system rather than
{MLT}.
Principle of Dimensional Homogeneity

• It states that all terms in an equation must have

the same dimensions, together with the equation
holds its physical meaning.
• If the terms do not have the same dimension,
then the equation is not correct.
• Dimensional homogeneity is also a useful tool for
checking formulae.
• But dimensional analysis cannot determine
numerical factors such as it cannot distinguish
between ½ gt2 and gt2
 Buckingham's Pi Theorem
• If a problem involves n physical variables(v1, v2, ....vn) and m
independent dimensions(M, L, T or F, L, T or such) then it can be
reduced to a relationship between n – m non-dimensional
parameters (Π1 , ..., Π n-m).
• In other words, the equation expressing the phenomenon as a
function of the physical variables
f(v1, v2, v3,......, vn) = 0
can be substituted by the following equation expressing it as a
function φ of a smaller number of non-dimensional groups:
φ(Π1 ,π2 ..., Π n-m ) = 0
This is called Buckingham’s Pi theorem.
 Construction of non-dimensional πs
These non-dimensional πs can be constructed as follows:
(i) Choose m dimensionally-distinct variables to act as scales. In
fluid mechanics it is common to choose a geometric quantity (e.g. a
length), a kinematic quantity (e.g. a velocity) and a property of the
fluid (e.g. density)
or select independent variables which do not form a π themselves
(ii) For each of the n – m remaining variable construct a non-
dimensional of the form
Π = (variable)(scale1 )a (scale2 )b (scale3 )c .......
where a, b, c, ... are chosen so as to make each π non-dimensional.
The power of physical variables(a, b, c,...)in each π group are
determined algebraically by the condition that the powers of each
fundamental dimension must sum to zero.
 Application
Example. Obtain an expression in non-dimensional form for the
pressure gradient(dp/dx) in a horizontal pipe with flow
velocity V, pipe diameter D, fluid density ρ, fluid viscosity µ
and pipe wall roughness e .
Solution: Step 1. Identify the physical variables.
dp/dx, ρ, V, D, e, µ
Step 2. Write down dimensions
[dp/dx] = ML-2T-2
[ρ] = ML-3
[ V] = LT-1
[D] = L
 Application
[e] = L
[µ] = ML-1T-1
Step 3. Find number of non-dimensional groups.
Number of physical variables n= 6
Number of fundamental dimensions m = 3 (M, L, T)
Number of non-dimensional groups(πs): n – m = 3
Step 4. Select dimensionally independent scaling variables(m =
3)
Such as geometric (D), kinematics (V), fluid property(ρ).
 Application
Step 5. Create first pi group by combining(D,V, ρ) with dp/dx.
π1 = dp/dx Da Vb ρc
Taking the dimensions of both sides:
M0L0T0 =( ML-2T-2 ) (L)a (LT-1)b (ML-3)c
Equate powers of fundamental dimensions:
M: 0 = 1+ c
L: 0 = -2 + a + b – 3c
T: 0 = -2 – b
Solving algebraically to obtain a = 1, b = -2, c = -1

Hence, π1 = dp/dx D V-2 ρ-1 =

 Application
Similarly, π2 = e Da Vb ρc
In terms of dimensions:
M0L0T0 = L (L)a (LT-1)b (ML-3)c
Equating exponents:
M: 0 = c
L: 0 = 1 + a +b + c
T: 0 = -b
Solving algebraically to obtain a = - 1, b = o, c = 0
π2 = eD-1 = e/D
 Application
Π3 = µ Da Vb ρc
In terms of dimensions:
M0L0T0 = (ML-1T-1 ) (L)a (LT-1)b (ML-3)c
Equating exponents:
M:0 = 1 + c
L: 0 = -1 + a +b – 3c
T: 0 = -1 –b
Solving algebraically to obtain a = -1, b = -1, c = -1
Hence, Π3 = µ/(ρVD)
 Application
Therefore, from pi theorem, the following functional
relationship is obtain:
π1 = f(π2 π3 )
and

With some modifications the non-dimensional relationship

then becomes
 Similarity and Model Testing
Flow conditions for a model test are completely similar if all
relevant dimensionless parameters have the same
corresponding values for model and prototype .
( π1)m = (π1)p , ( π2)m = (π2)p ..........

• Enables extrapolation from model to full scale

• However, complete similarity usually not possible
• Therefore, often it is necessary to use Re, or Fr, or Ma
scaling, i.e., select most important Π and accommodate
others as best possible .
 Types of Similarity
• Geometric Similarity (similar length scales): A model and
prototype are geometrically similar if and only if all body
dimensions in all three coordinates have the same linear-scale
ratios.
• Kinematic Similarity (similar length and time scales): The
motions of two systems are kinematically similar if
homologous (same relative position) particles lie at
homologous points at homologous times .

• Dynamic Similarity (similar length, time and force (or mass)

scales): in addition to the requirements for kinematic
similarity the model and prototype forces must be in a
constant ratio .
 Example
Example. A prototype gate valve which will control the flow in a pipe
system conveying paraffin is to be studied in a model. Perform
dimensional analysis to obtain the relevant nondimensional
groups.
A 1/5 scale model is built to determine the pressure drop across the
valve with water as the working fluid.
(a) For a particular opening, when the velocity of paraffin in the
prototype is 3.0 m s–1 what should be the velocity of water in the
model for dynamic similarity?
(b) What is the scale ratio of the quantity of flow?
(c) Find the pressure drop in the prototype if it is 60 kPa in the model.
(The density and viscosity of paraffin are 800 kg m–3 and 0.002 kg m–1
s–1 respectively. Take the kinematic viscosity of water as 1.12x10-6
m2s-1 ).
 Solution
• The pressure drop is expected to depend upon the gate opening h,
the overall depth H, the velocity V, density ρ and viscosity µ .
• Required variables with their respective dimensions
[∆ p] = ML–1T–2
[h] = L
[H] = L
[V] = LT–1
[ρ ] = ML–3
[µ ] = ML–1T–1
Number of variables: n = 6.
Number of independent dimensions: m = 3 (M, L, T)
Number of non-dimensional groups: n – m = 3
 Solution
Select scaling variables:
Geometric (H), kinematic (V), fluid property (ρ).
Form dimensionless groups by non-dimensionalising the
remaining variables ∆p, h and µ .
π1 = ∆p Ha V b ρc , M0L0T0 =( ML-1T-2 ) (L)a (LT-1)b (ML-3)c
Equating exponents and solving algebraically yields
a = 0, b = -2, c = -1,

Similarly, π2 = h/H and

 Solution
After some modifications in π3 we can write dimensional analysis
in functional form

(a) Dynamic similarity requires that all non-dimensional groups

be the same in model and prototype; i.e.
 Solution
From last, we have a velocity scale ratio

Hence,
(b)The scale ratio of the quantity of flow is
 Solution
(c) For pressure drop
Non-dimensional Groups in Fluid Mechanics
Name Non-dimensional Interpretation Applications
groups
Reyonlds Number Viscous flows
Re
Froude number Free surface flows
Fr
Euler number Pressure or pressure
Eu difference flows
Cauchy number Compressible flows
Ca
Mach number Compressible flows
Ma
Strouhal number Oscillating flows
St
Weber number Free surface flows
We
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