Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Dimensional analysis
Dimensional analysis is a mathematical technique to list physical variables which involved in the
flow and systematically arrange physical relationship among physical variables and make into
non-dimensional parameters.
Dimensions
Engineering and scientists use various physical parameters to describe a given phenomenon.
But these physical parameters are independent of each other called fundamental or primary
quantities/parameters. Example: mass, length, time. The parameters which are expressed in
terms of primary quantities are called secondary or derived quantities. Example: velocity, force
power etc.
Buckingham theorem
If there are 0 n 0 physical variables in a dimensionally homogeneous equation and if these physical variables contain 0 m 0 fundamental dimensions (M,L,T) then they are grouped into 0 n m 0
dimensionless independent terms.
Let X1 , X2 , X3 , ...Xn are the physical variables involved in a flow phenomenon. Let X1 be the
dependent variables and X2 , X3 , ...Xn are the independent variables on which X1 depends. Then
1 of 6
SKVA
(1)
(2)
(3)
2 b2 c2 1
2 = Xa
2 X3 X4 X6 ,
(4)
nm = Xanm
Xbnm
Xcnm
X1n .
2
3
4
(5)
SKVA
flow velocity and speed of sound have same dimension of m/s. Then flow velocity and speed of
sound should not be selected as repeating variables.
3. The selected repeating variables should be independent as far as possible.
Similitude
Similitude is defined as the complete similarity between model and prototype. Complete similarity is attained, if the following three types is similarity is attained, if the following three of
similarities exist: (1) Geometric similarity, (2) Kinematic similarity and (3) Dynamic similarity.
3 of 6
SKVA
Geometric similarity
A model and its prototype are geometrically similar, if the ratios of the corresponding length
dimensions are equal. Let Lm , bm , Dm , Am and Lp , bp , Dp , Ap are the length, breath, diameter
and area of a model and a prototype respectively.
For geometric similarity between model and prototype, the relations,
Lp
bp
Dp
=
=
= Lr = length scale ratio.
Lm
bm
Dm
Ap
Lp bp
=
= L2r = Area scale ratio.
Am
Lm bm
Kinematic similarity
Kinematic similarity is the similarity of motion. It corresponds to the points in the model and
prototype. If the acceleration ratios and acceleration vectors points are same in the same direction, then two flows are said to be kinematically similar.
Tp
Time scale ratio, = Tr =
.
Tm
Velocity scale ratio, = Vr =
Lp
Tp
Lm
Tm
Lr
.
Tr
Lp
Tp2
Lm
2
Tm
Lr
.
Tr2
Dynamic Similarity
It is the similarity of forces. the flows in the model and prototype are of dynamic similar. In
dynamic similarity, the force polygon of the two flows can be superimposed by change in scale.
let, (Fi )p = inertia force at all points in prototype
(Fv )p = Viscous force at the point in prototype
(Fg )p = gravity force at the points in prototype, and
(Fi )m , (Fv )m , (Fg )m are corresponding values of the force in the model. thus,
(Fi )p
(Fv )p
(Fg )p
=
=
= Fr = Forceratio
(Fi )m
(Fv )m
(Fg )m
(6)
It is very difficult to reproduce flight conditions exactly in wind tunnel experiments, whether the
body is moving through a stationary gas or the gas past a stationary body. Models are therefore
commonly used in wind tunnels of limited dimensions, to predict the behavior of prototypes in
flight.
4 of 6
SKVA
Dimensionless Parameters
1.1
Reynolds Number
It is defined as the ratio of the inertia force to the viscous force of a flowing fluid denoted by Re
Re =
inertiaforce
viscousforce
Re =
1.2
2 L2
L
(7)
Froude Number
It is defined as the square root of the ratio of the inertia force of a flowing fluid to the gravity
force.
q
inertiaforce
Fr = gravityforce
s
Fr =
1.3
L2 2
L3 g
(8)
Euler Number
It is defined as the square root of the ratio of inertia force to the pressure force of a flowing fluid.
q
inertiaforce
Eu = pressureforce
s
L2 2
Eu =
(9)
pL2
1.4
Weber Number
It is the ratio of the square root of the inertia force to the surface tension force.
q
inertiaforce
We = surfacetensionforce
r
L2 2
We =
L
1.5
(10)
Mach Number
It is defined as the square root of the inertia force of flowing fluid to the elastic force.
q
M = inertiaforce
elasticforce
r
L2 2
M=
kL2
5 of 6
(11)
SKVA