Dimensional Analysis

A tool to help one to get maximum information from a minimum number of experiments

facilitates a correlation of data with minimum number

of plots.
Can establish the scaling laws between models and prototype in testing.

Parameter Dimensions
Consider experimental studies of drag on a cylinder Drag (F) depends upon Flow Speed V, diameter d, viscosity m, density of fluid r Just imagine how many experiments are needed to study this phenomenon completely, It may run into hundreds
A dimensional analysis indicates that Cd and Reynolds number, Re or the Mach number M can determine the Cd behaviour thus making it necessary to perform only a limited number of experiments.

Buckingham Pi Theorem
Consider a phenomenon described by an equation like

g = g(q1, q2, q3, ..,qn)

where q1, q2, q3, ..,qn are the independent variables.

If m is the number of independent dimensions required to specify the dimensions of all q1, q2, q3, ..,qn then one can come up with a relation like,

G(P1, P2, P3, P n-m) = 0

where P1, P2, P3, P n-m are non-dimensional parameters.

In other words the phenomenon can be described by n-m number of non-dimensional parameters.

Important non-dimensional numbers in Fluid Dynamics

Reynolds Number Euler Number or Pressure Coefficient Froude Number Mach Number Cavitation Number Weber Number Knudsen Number Re Cp Fr M Ca We Kn

Reynolds Number, Re
Ratio of Inertial forces to Viscous forces.

r V 2 L2 r VL Re m VL m
Flow at low Reynolds numbers are laminar Flows at large Reynolds numbers are usually turbulent At low Reynolds numbers viscous effects are important in a large region around a body. At higher Reynolds numbers viscous effects are confined to a thin region around the body.

Euler Number or Pressure Coefficient, Cp

Ratio of Pressure forces to Inertial Force

p Cp 1 2 r V 2
An important parameter in Aerodynamics

Cavitation Number
In cavitation studies, p(see formula for Cp) is taken as p - pv where p is the liquid pressure and pv is the liquid vapour pressure,

The Cavitation number is given by

p pv Ca 1 2 r V 2

Froude Number
Square of Froude Number related to the ratio of Inertial to Gravity forces.

V Fr gL
Important when free surfaces effects are significant

Fr < 1 Fr > 1

Subcritical Flow Supercritical Flow

Weber Number
Ratio of Inertia to Surface Tension forces.

r V 2L We
Where is surface tension

Mach Number
Could be interpreted as the ratio of Inertial to Compressibility forces

V M c

M2

r V 2 L2
Ev L2

Where c is the local sonic speed, Ev is the Bulk Modulus of Elasticity. A significant parameter in Aerodynamics. NOTE: For incompressible Flows, c = and M = 0

Similitude and Model Studies

For a study on a model to relate to that on a prototype it is required that there be

Geometrical Similarity Kinematic Similarity Dynamic Similarity

Geometrical Similarity
Physical dimensions of model and prototype be similar

Hp Lm Lp

Hm

Lp Lm Hp Hm

Kinematic Similarity
Velocity vectors at corresponding locations on the model and prototype are similar

up
vp

vm

um

up

um v p vm

Dynamic Similarity
Forces at corresponding locations on model and prototype are similar

Ftp
Fnp

Fnm

Ftm

Ftm Fn p Fnm

Ft p

Problem in Wind Tunnel testing

While testing models in wind tunnels it is required that following non-dimensional parameters be preserved.

Reynolds Number Mach Number Cd = f (Re, M)

But the available wind tunnels do not permit both these numbers to be preserved.

Solution for Wind Tunnel testing

Remedy is offered by nature itself
At low speeds viscous effects are more important than the compressibility effects. So only Reynolds number be
preserved.

Cd = f (Re)

At higher speeds compressibility effects are dominating. So only Mach number need be preserved.

Cd = f (M)