BUCKINGHAM PI THEOREM

• Understanding most fluid mechanics phenomena

involving real fluids requires both analysis and
experimental data

• In this section, we look at the techniques used in

designing experiments and correlating data

• Specifically, we will learn how laboratory experiments (or

models) can be used to describe similar phenomena
outside the laboratory, e.g. at the prototype
and production scale
 BUCKINGHAM PI THEOREM
• Consider flow around a cylinder of different length
scale and different Newtonian fluids, are these
related?
 BUCKINGHAM PI THEOREM
• Based upon our “experience”, the drag on a
cylinder per unit length is
Fdrag    ,  , D,U 
 BUCKINGHAM PI THEOREM
• We can relate the drag on cylinders of
different scales through dimensionless
numbers, Pi groups, that characterize the
physical phenomena
• Buckingham Pi theorem is a method for
finding a set dimensionless Pi groups
• Note the Pi groups for a phenomena are not
• Necessarily unique
 BUCKINGHAM PI THEOREM
• The number of independent variables can be
reduced by a dimensional analysis technique known
as the Buckingham Pi theorem:
A dimensionally homogeneous equation with k
variables can be reduced to k - r dimensionless
products, where r is the minimum no. of reference
dimensions needed to describe the variables
 BUCKINGHAM PI THEOREM
• Method of Repeating Variables:
1) List all variables in the problem, k
2) Express each variable in terms of basic dimensions
3) Select a number of repeating variables, r, that equals the no. of
reference dimensions, each reference dimension should
represented
4) Determine the number of pi terms, k-r
5) Form a dimensionless pi term from each non-repeating variable
using the repeating variables
6) Write an expression as a relationship of pi terms and consider its
meaning – dynamic similitude
 BUCKINGHAM PI THEOREM
• 1) List all variables in the problem, k=5
Fdrag    ,  , D,U 

,

U D
 BUCKINGHAM PI THEOREM
2) Express each variable in terms of basic dimensions,
either MLT or FLT
• SI units based on Mass, Length, Time, Temp
• English units based on Force, Length, Time, Temp

[Fdrag] = [MLT-2] [] = [ML-3 ]

[] = [ML-1T-1] [D] = [L]
[U] = [LT-1]
 BUCKINGHAM PI THEOREM
3) Select a number of repeating variables, r, that equals the no.
of reference dimensions, each reference dimension should
represented
• Selection of variables
– no simple procedure
– requires understanding of the phenomena and
physical laws
– variables can be categorized by geometry,
material properties, and external effects
• Basic dimensions
– usually use MLT or FLT
– all three not always required
– occasionally, the no. of reference dimensions is
less than no. of basic dimensions required
 BUCKINGHAM PI THEOREM
• 3) Select a number of repeating variables, r, that equals
the no. of reference dimensions
• In this problem there are 3 reference dimensions MLT
• Choose as repeating variables:
[] = [ML-3 ] [D] = [L] [U] = [LT-1]
All three reference dimensions included.
Note, since we are interested in relating the drag
on cylinders of different length scales, we didn’t choose
drag force as one of the repeating variables
 BUCKINGHAM PI THEOREM
4) Determine the number of pi terms, k-r

k-r=5-3=2
 Drag Coefficient CD
• 5) Form a dimensionless pi term from each non-repeating variable
using the repeating variables

• P1 = [Fdrag][]a[D]b[U]c

• P1 = [MLT-2][ML-3]a[L]b[LT-1]c

• must be dimensionless so net exponent off each reference dimension

must be zero

• P1 = [MLT-2][ML-3]a[L]b[LT-1]c =M0L0T0

• M: 1+a=0 L: 1-3a+b+c = 0 T: -2-c=0

• Solution: a=-1; b=-2; c=-2 Drag

P1   CD
U D
2 2
 Reynolds Number Re
• 5) Form a dimensionless pi term from each non-repeating variable
using the repeating variables

• P2 = [][]a[D]b[U]c
• P2 = [ML-1T-1][ML-3]a[L]b[LT-1]c

• must be dimensionless so net exponent off each reference

dimension must be zero

• P2 = [ML-1T-1][ML-3]a[L]b[LT-1]c= M0L0T0
• M: 1+a=0 L: -1-3a+b+c = 0 T: -1-c=0
• Solution: a=-1; b=-1; c=-1 
P2   Re 1
UD
 Dynamic Similitude
• 6) Write an expression as a relationship of pi
terms and consider its meaning – dimensional
similitude
P1   (P 2 )  CD   (Re)
If Remodel = Reprototype then CD_model = CD_prototype
Measure CD_model in lab.
FDrag_prototype = CD_model *(U2D2)_prototype
 Drag on a cylinder data
Dynamic similitude: Measured drag /length collapse to one curve
 Determination of Pi Terms
• Because of surface tension, it is possible, with care, to support
an object heavier than water on the water surface as shown in
the figure. The maximum thickness, h, of a square of material
that can be supported is assumed to be a function of the
length of a side, l, the density of the material,  the
acceleration of gravity, g, and the surface tension of the liquid,
s. Develop a set of suitable dimensionless parameters for this
problem.
Correlation of experimental data