Problem 7.

12 [Difficulty: 2]

Given: Functional relationship between boundary layer thickness and physical parameters
Find: Appropriate dimensionless parameters
Solution: We will use the Buckingham pi-theorem.

1  x   U n = 5 parameters

2 Select primary dimensions M, L, t:

3  x   U

L L M M L
r = 3 dimensions
L3 Lt t

4  x U m = r = 3 repeating parameters

5 We have n - m = 2 dimensionless groups. Setting up dimensional equations:

a c
L 
M
 L  
a b c b L 0 0 0
Π1  δ ρ  x  U Thus:
 3   M L t
t
L 
Summing exponents:

M: 0  a  0 The solution to this system is: δ

Π1 
L: 1  3 a  b  c  0 a0 b  1 c  0 x

t: 0c0

Check using F, L, t dimensions: ( L)  

1
1
 L

a c
a b c  M    M   Lb  L   M0 L0 t0
Π2  μ ρ  x  U Thus:  L t   3  t
  L   
Summing exponents:

M: 1  a  0 The solution to this system is: μ

Π2 
L: 1  3  a  b  c  0 a  1 b  1 c  1 ρ x  U

t: 1  c  0

 F t    L    1    t   1
4 2

 2   2   L   L 
Check using F, L, t dimensions: The functional relationship is:
 L   F t  Π1  f Π2  