MECH 3408

Mechanics of Fluids

Similitude
Dr. Jiyun Song
Office: HW7-01
Email: jsong90@hku.hk
 Review on dimensional analysis
In fluid mechanics, dimensional analysis is
performed in order to obtain
dimensionless terms or groups.

Objective: Dimensional analysis is used to derive

some useful mathematical relationships between
dimensionless terms, which can be widely
applicable in different fluid mechanics problems
with different conditions.

Method: Buckingham 𝜋𝜋 Theorem

2
Buckingham 𝜋𝜋 Theorem
(1)Select all the pertinent variables (n) and write the functional relation
(2)Express each variable in terms of basic dimensions.
(3)Select repeating variables
(a) Don’t select dependent variables.
(b) Variable should contain all m dimensions (M-L-T system).
(c) Don’t select dimensionless variables.
(4) The number of 𝜋𝜋 terms (dimensionless terms) is n-m.
(5) Write the 𝜋𝜋 terms by combining the repeating variables with each of
the remaining variables.
(6) Solve the equations from Step 5
(7) Check all the resulting 𝜋𝜋 terms to make sure they are dimensionless.
(8) Write the functional relationship 𝜋𝜋1 = 𝑓𝑓(𝜋𝜋2 , 𝜋𝜋3 , 𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒)

3
 Similitude
Similitude is the theory and art of predicting prototype
(the real thing) performance from model observations.
Geometric similarity
Kinematic similarity
Dynamic similarity

Test room
Weather station

https://youtu.be/gNRWlDflj80 4
 Similitude
(1) Geometric similarity
 Model and prototype must be the same shape.
 All linear dimensions of the model are related to the corresponding
dimensions of the prototype by a constant scale factor. (Angles will not be
changed)

60°
60°

5
 Similitude
(2) Kinematic similarity
 Velocities at corresponding points in the two flows are in the same direction and
are related by a constant scale factor in magnitude.
 Flow regimes must be the same (laminar, turbulent, compressible, etc.)

6
 Similitude
(3) Dynamic similarity
 At corresponding points in the flow, identical kinds of forces are parallel and are
related by a constant scale factor.

Perfect dynamic similarity is practically impossible to achieve.

Usually, only the dominant one of the similarity laws is to be satisfied.

7
Common dimensionless parameters

8
Example 1: Reynolds number similarity

Q=30cfs

Qm

Solution: Equate Reynolds number

𝜌𝜌𝑚𝑚 𝑉𝑉𝑚𝑚 𝐷𝐷𝑚𝑚 𝜌𝜌𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉

= Find out flowrate Q:
𝜇𝜇𝑚𝑚 𝜇𝜇

Density & viscosity equals.

9
Example 2: Froude number similarity
Free surface

Weber number Reynolds number

Solution:

Geometric similarity:

Find out flowrate Q:

Dynamic similarity:
Equate Froude number:

10
 Dynamic similarity
Example 3: Prototype: A sphere in water (at 20 °C)
Velocity Vp = 1.5 m/s
D Drag force Fp = ?
V Model: A sphere (same size) in air (at 40 °C)
Drag force Fm = 35 N
Velocity Vm = ?
Subscripts: m: model, p: prototype

𝜌𝜌, 𝜇𝜇 Solutions:
Step 1: Reynolds number (Re) similarity
𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌
=
CLUES: 𝜇𝜇 𝑚𝑚
𝜇𝜇 𝑝𝑝
Here
You may refer to White Board notes (Week 2), Or written in another form of Re ν= 𝜇𝜇⁄𝜌𝜌 :
we did a dimensional analysis for drag force. 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 kinematic
=
𝐹𝐹 𝜇𝜇 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 ν 𝑚𝑚 ν 𝑝𝑝 viscosity
= 𝑓𝑓 =∅ 𝑣𝑣 𝑣𝑣𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
𝜌𝜌𝑉𝑉 2 𝐷𝐷2 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 𝜇𝜇 So, 𝑉𝑉𝑚𝑚 = 𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝 𝑣𝑣𝑚𝑚 = 𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝 𝑣𝑣
𝑝𝑝 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤
1.488∗10−5
Reynolds number = 1.5 ∗ 1.004∗10−6 = 22.2 m/s
Drag coefficient
11
 Dynamic similarity
Example 3: Prototype: A sphere in water (at 20 °C)
Velocity Vp = 1.5 m/s
D Drag force Fp = ?
V Model: A sphere (same size) in air (at 40 °C)
Drag force Fm = 35 N
Velocity Vm = ?
Subscripts: m: model, p: prototype

𝜌𝜌, 𝜇𝜇 Solutions:
Step 2: Equate Drag coefficient
𝐹𝐹 𝐹𝐹
CLUES: =
𝜌𝜌𝑉𝑉 2 𝐷𝐷2 𝑚𝑚 𝜌𝜌𝑉𝑉 2 𝐷𝐷2 𝑝𝑝
You may refer to White Board notes (Week 2), 2
𝜌𝜌𝑝𝑝 𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝
we did a dimensional analysis for drag force. So, 𝐹𝐹𝑃𝑃 = 𝜌𝜌 𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚
𝑉𝑉𝑚𝑚
𝐹𝐹 𝜇𝜇 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 𝑚𝑚
= 𝑓𝑓 =∅ 𝜌𝜌𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 𝑉𝑉𝑝𝑝 2
𝜌𝜌𝑉𝑉 2 𝐷𝐷2 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 𝜇𝜇 = 𝜌𝜌 𝐹𝐹𝑚𝑚
𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑉𝑉𝑚𝑚
998.21 1.5 2
= ∗ 35 = 141.5𝑁𝑁
Drag coefficient Reynolds number 1.127 22.2

12
 Dynamic similarity
Example 4: A torpedo is designed to move at a speed of 6 m/s in 10 °C water.
Determine the corresponding model speed if a 1:4 model is tested in a wind tunnel
under an absolute pressure of 20 bar and at constant temperature 27 °C. If the drag
on the model is 500 N, what is the drag on the prototype?
Solutions:
CLUES:
𝐹𝐹 𝜇𝜇 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌
= 𝑓𝑓 = ∅
𝜌𝜌𝑉𝑉 2 𝐷𝐷2 𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌𝜌 𝜇𝜇

13
 Dynamic similarity
Example 4: A torpedo is designed to move at a speed of 6 m/s in 10 °C water.
Determine the corresponding model speed if a 1:4 model is tested in a wind tunnel
under an absolute pressure of 20 bar and at constant temperature 27 °C. If the drag
on the model is 500 N, what is the drag on the prototype?
Solutions: Subscripts:
m: model
(Equate Reynolds number) p: prototype

(Equate Drag Coefficient)

14
 Dynamic similarity for ship
Ship resistance
1) Skin friction drag (viscous effects due to the contact between ship and water）
2) Wave resistance (gravity effects lead to water accumulating around the hull)
3) Eddy-making resistance (Form drag, related to shape) (ignore this for ship!)

The two main resistance forms are 1) skin friction drag and 2) wave resistance. The
3) eddy-making resistance is very small compared to 2) wave resistance, therefore
is neglected or combined with 2) as residual resistance for ship problems.

Analysis: Smooth and clean hull

Skin friction drag = f (Re) (viscous effects)
Wave resistance = ø (Fr) (gravity effects)

Skin friction drag: https://youtu.be/NjX2jL-LrkI

Wave resistance: https://youtu.be/OVjWnZFUIF0

Surface drag vs form drag in sports:

https://youtu.be/mxItdjF9-cE 15
In ship problems, Froude number (Fr) similarity is dominant.

16
Summary

• Review on dimensional analysis

• Introduction to similitude

Thanks for your attention!

Any questions, let me know.

17