Dimensional Analysis & Similitude

Formation
of
DIMENSIONLESS
GROUPS
Based
on
DIMENSIONAL
HOMOGENEITY (same units)
- Can do most transformations like
inversing
- Usually only use M, L, T; fluid
properties means variables of and
1. Rayleighs Technique:
1. List down all variables e.g F=f(U, ,
, D, N)
2. List dimensions of each variable,
[F]=MLT-2 etc.
3. Write eqn: F=KUa b cDdNe (K is
dimensionless constant and the rest are
unknown indices)

4. Sub dimensions of variables into 3.

& compare indices to get eqns in a, b,
c, d, e
5. Express 3 of them in terms of the
other 2
6. Sub back into F.
7. Rearrange to express
Functional r/s
2. Buckingham Pi Theroem: Usually
this
1. List down all variables (n)
2. List dimensions of variables (m
dimensions)
3. Get (n-m) dimensionless groups,
4. Select 3 to be repeating variables
i) Geometry of flow, usually L
ii) Fluid properties, usually
iii) Fluid motion, usually velocity or
pressure etc.
5. Each has the same repeating
variables with unknown powers + one
new additional variable
6. Solve for each and write
functional r/s
(1, 2, 3) = 0 or 1=f(2, 3)

*NOTE: DISTORTED MODELS

1. Pi Products cannot match (Re

and Fr)
- Open channel or free surface flow
(ocean liner/marina barrage); usually
use Fr over Re
2.
Geometric
similarity
not
achievable
- Roughness cannot be made too small