Problems on Rayleigh's and

Buckingham methods
1. List all the variables that may influence the motion
of a moving body fully submerged in a fluid and by
dimensional analysis derive an expression for
resistance to its motion.
• Sol:-
Length of body l = [L]
Velocity V = [ L T-1 ]
Viscosity of fluid µ = [ M L-1 T-1 ]
Mass density of fluid ρ = [ M L-3 ]
Resistance to motion R = [ M L T-2 ]
Resistance ‘R’ is a function of other parameters

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We can write R = f (l, V, μ, ρ)
or
f (R, l, V, μ, ρ) = C
No. of variables = n = 5
No. of fundamental quantities m = 3
n = 5, m = 3
No. of dimensionless π-terms n-m = 2
2 no. of π terms
No. of repeating variables = 3

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Choose repeating variables as ρ, l, V
π1 = ρ a1 lb1 Vc1 R
π 2 = ρ a2 lb2 Vc2 μ

π 1 = [ M L-3 ]a1 [ L ]b1 [ L T-1 ]c1 [ M L T-2 ]

Mo Lo To = M a1+1 L-3a1 + b1 + c1+ 1 T-c1-2

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Equating like shown
a1 + 1 = 0 => a1 = -1
- c1 – 1= 0 => c1 = -2

-3a1+b1+c1+1 = 0
=> -3 (-1) + b1 – 2 + 1 = 0
=> b1 = -1 + 2 -3 = -2

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π 2 = ρ a2 lb2 Vc2 μ
π 2 = [ M L-3 ]a2 [ L ]b2 [ L T-1 ]c2 [ M L-1 T-1 ]
Mo Lo To = M a2+1 L-3a2 + b2 + c2- 1 T-c2-1
a2 + 1 = 0 => a2 = -1
-c2 – 1 = 0 => c2 = -1
-3a2 + b2 + c2 – 1 = 0 => -3 (-1) + b2 + (-1) - 1 = 0
=> 3 + b2 – 2 = 0 =>b2 = -1

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 ƒ (π1 , π2) = C

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2. If the capillary rise in depends on specific weight ϒ, surface
tension σ of the fluid and the radius of the tube r, show that

Sol:- Capillary rise h= [L]

Specific weight ϒ = MLT-2 / L3 = ML-2T-2

Surface Tension σ = Force / Length

= MLT-2 / L = M T-2

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Radius of Tube r = [ L]
Acceleration g = [ LT-2]

[ n = 5, m = 3]

No. of π terms = n – m = 5 – 3 = 2

f (π 1, π 2) = C
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 r
Choose repeating variables as and ϒ
π 1= ϒ a1 rb1 gc1 h

π 2= ϒ a2 rb2 gc2 σ

π 1= [ ML-2T-2]a1 [L]b1 [L]

M0L0T0 = Ma1 L-2a1+b1+1 T-2c1

a1 = 0, b1 = -1, c1=0
π 1= h/r ----------- (1)

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π 2 = ϒ a2 rb2 gc2 σ
π2 = [ ML-2T-2]a2 [L]b2 [MT-2]
Ma2+1 L-2a2+b2 T-2a2-2
a2 = -1 ; b2 = 2 (-1) = -2

ƒ (π1, π2) = C

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3. The efficiency ŋ of fan depends on density ρ and viscosity μ
of fluid, angular velocity w, diameter D and discharge Ø
contain a functional relationship for ŋ in terms of
dimensionless parameters.

• Sol:- Efficiency ŋ = MOLOTO

• Mass density ρ = ML-3
• Viscosity μ = ML-1T-1
• Angular velocity ω = T-1
• Diameter D = L
• Discharge Q = L3 T-1
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• n = 6; m = 3
• n–m=6–3=3
• no. of π terms = 3

π 1= ρa1 ωb1 Dc1 ŋ

π2 = ρa2 ωb2 Dc2 μ

π3 = ρa3 ωb3 Dc3 Ø

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π1= ρa1 ωb1 Dc1 ŋ

MOLOTO = [ML-3]a1 [T-1]b1 [L]c1 [MOLOTO]

= Ma1 L-3a1+b1+c1 T-b1

a1 = 0; b1 = 0; c1 = 0

π1 =ŋ ------------ (1)

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π2 = ρa2 ωb2 Dc2 μ

MOLOTO = [ML-3]a2 [T-1]b2 [L]c2 [ML-1T-1]

= Ma2+1 L-3a2+c2-1 T -b2-1
a2+1 = 0 3a +c -1 = 0 -b -1 =0
2 2 2
= -3 (-1) + C2-1 = 0
C2 = -2

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π3 = ρa3 ωb3 Dc3 Q

MOLOTO = [ML-3]a3 [T-1]b3 [L]c3 [L3T-1]

= Ma3 L-3a3+b3+c3+3 T -b3-1

a3 = 0; b3 = -1; c3 = -3

a3 = 0; b3 = -1; c3 = -3

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 = ŋ

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4. Obtain an expression for critical depth yc, in a
triangular channel which depends on discharge Q,
gravitational Acceleration g and angle of channel θ.

Sol:- Critical depth yc = [L]

Discharge Q = [L3 T-1]
Gravi Acceleration g = [LT-2]
Channel angle θ = [LOTO]

n = 4; m = 2
n–m=4–2=2
No of dimensionless terms = 2
Repeating variables = Q, g
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Dimensionless terms π1, π2
π2 = ( θ )

π1 = Q a1 gb1 yc

π1 = [L3 T-1]a1 [LT-2] b1 [L]

LOTO = L3a1+b1+1 T -a1-2b1

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π1= Q -2/5 g 1/5 yc
f (π1, π2 ) = C

f (Q -2/5 g 1/5 yc , θ) = C

Q -2/5 g 1/5 yc , = f (θ)

yc = Q 2/5 g -1/5 f (θ) yc5 = (Q 2 / g ) f (θ)

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5. The drop in pressure Δp due to an obstruction in a pipe
depend on the pipe diameter D, average velocity V, mass
density ρ and viscosity μ of following find and
characteristic length obstruction d determine a set of
dimensionless parameters.
Sol:-
Drop in pressure Δp = ML-1T-2
Diameter D = L
Velocity V = LT-1
Mass density ρ = ML-3
Viscosity μ = ML-1T-1
Length of obstruction d = L

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Δp = f ( D, V, ρ, μ, d )
ƒ (Δp, D, V, ρ, μ, d ) = C

N = 6; m = 3 => n–m=3

π1 π2 π3

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Choose repeating variables as ρ V D

π1 = ρ a1 Vb1 Dc1 Δp
π2 = ρ a2 Vb2 Dc2 μ
π3 = ρ a3 Vb3 Dc3 d

π1 = ρ a1 Vb1 Dc1 Δp

MOLOTO = [ML-3]a1 [LT -1]b1 [L]c1 [M L-1T-2]

= M a1+1 L-3a1+b1+c1-1 T –b1-2

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 a1 + 1 = 0=> a1 = -1

-b – 1 = 0 => b1 = -2

-3 (-1) -2 + C1 -1 = 0 => C1 = 0

π1= ρ -1 V -2 Do Δp

π1 = => (1)

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π2 = ρ a2 Vb2 Dc2 μ
MOLOTO = [ML-3]a2 [LT -1]b2 [L]c2 [M L-1T-2]
= M a2+1 L-3a2+b2+c2-1 T-b2-1

a2 = -1; b2 = -1; c2 = -1

π2 =

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π3 = ρ a3 Vb3 Dc3 d

MOLOTO = [ML-3]a3 [LT -1]b3 [L]c3 [L]

=

= a3
M L -3a3+b3+c3+1 T -b3

a3 = 0; b3 = 0; c3 = -1

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.

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 problem
Show by π theorem that a general equation for
discharge a over a weir of any shape is given by
H = head over weir
V = kinematic viscosity
ℓ = mass density
σ = surface tension

Hence show that the discharge over a rectangular is

weir if crest length is given by Q= CdL H3/2
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