DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Introduction:

Dimensional Analysis is a mathematical technique making

use of study of dimensions
It deals with the dimensions of physical quantities involved
in the phenomenon
In dimensional analysis, one first predicts the physical
parameters that will influence the flow, and then by,
grouping these parameters in dimensionless combinations
a better understanding of the flow phenomenon is made
possible
It is particularly helpful in experimental work because it
provides a guide to those things that significantly influence
the phenomena; thus it indicates the direction in which the
experimental work should go
This mathematical technique is used in research work for
design and for conducting model tests
TYPES OF DIMENSIONS
There are two types of dimensions

• Fundamental Dimensions or Fundamental Quantities

• Secondary Dimensions or Derived Quantities

Fundamental Dimensions or Fundamental Quantities:

These are basic quantities. For Example;
• Time, T Time, T
• Distance, L Distance, L,
• Mass, M Force, F

Force=Mass x Acceleration = MLT-2

TYPES OF DIMENSIONS

Secondary Dimensions or Derived Quantities

The are those quantities which posses more than one
fundamental dimensions.

For example;
• Velocity is denoted by distance per unit time L/T
• Acceleration is denoted by distance per unit time square L/T2
• Density is denoted by mass per unit volume M/L3

Since velocity, density and acceleration involve more

than one fundamental quantities so these are called
derived quantities.
 Table: Flow Characteristics, units and Dimensions
Characteristics Unit (SI) Dimension Dimension
(MLT) (FLT)
Geometry Length m L
Area m2 L2
Volume m3 L3
Kinematic Time S T
Velocity m/S L/T
Acceleration m/S2 L/T2

Discharge m3/S L3/T

Dynamic Mass Kg M FL-1T2
Force N (Kg-m/S2) MLT-2 F
Pressure Pa (N/m2) ML-1T-2 FL-2
Energy J (N-m) ML2T-2 FL
Power Watt (N-m/S) ML2T-3 FLT-1
METHODOLOGY OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

The basic principle is Dimensional Homogeneity, which

means the dimensions of each terms in an equation on both
sides are equal.

So such an equation, in which dimensions of each term on

both sides of equation are same, is known as
Dimensionally Homogeneous Equation. Such equations are
independent of system of units. For example;
Lets consider the equation V=(2gH)1/2
• Dimensions of LHS=V=L/T=LT-1
• Dimensions of RHS=(2gH)1/2=(L/T2xL)1/2=LT-1
• Dimensions of LHS = Dimensions of RHS

So the equation V=(2gH)1/2 is dimensionally homogeneous

equation.
METHODS OF DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
If the number of variables involved in a physical phenomenon are
known, then the relation among the variables can be determined by the
following two methods;
• Rayleigh’s Method
• Buckingham’s π-Theorem
BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:
Buckingham’s π-Theorem: Since Rayleigh’s Method becomes
laborious if variables are more than fundamental dimensions (MLT), so
the difficulty is overcome by Buckingham’s π-Theorem which states
that
“If there are n variables (Independent and Dependent) in a physical
phenomenon and if these variables contain m fundamental dimensions
then the variables are arranged into (n-m) dimensionless terms which
are called π-terms.”
Let X1, X2, X3,…,X4, Xn are the variables involved in a physical
problem. Let X1 be the dependent variable and X2, X3, X4,…,Xn are
the independent variables on which X1 depends. Mathematically it can
be written as
X1=f(X2 ,X3 ,X4 ,Xn) which can be rewritten as
f(X1, X2 ,X3 ,X4 ,Xn)=0
Above equation is dimensionally homogenous.
It contain n variables and if there are m fundamental dimensions then it
can be written in terms of dimensions groups called π-terms which are
equal to (n-m)
Hence; f(π1, π2 π3,… πn-m)=0
BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:
Properties of π-terms:
• Each π-term is dimensionless and is independent of system of
units.
• Division or multiplication by a constant does not change the
character of the π-terms.
• Each π-term contains m+1 variables, where m is the number of
fundamental dimensions and also called repeating variable.
Let in the above case X2, X3, X4 are repeating variables and if
fundamental dimensions m = 3 then each π-term is written as
Π1=X2a1. X3b1. X4c1 .X1
Π2=X2a2. X3b2. X4c2 .X5
.
.
Πn-m=X2a(n-m). X3b(n-m). X4c(n-m) .Xn
Each equation is solved by principle of dimensionless
homogeneity and values of a1, b1 & c1 etc are obtained. Final result
is in the form of
Π1=ϕ’(Π2, Π3, Π4 ,…, Π(n-m))
Π2=ϕ”(Π1, Π3, Π4 ,…, Π(n-m))
17
METHODS OF SELECTING REPEATING VARIABLES
The number of repeating variables are equal to number of
fundamental dimensions of the problem. The choice of repeating
variables is governed by following considerations;
• As far as possible, dependent variable should not be selected as
repeating variable
• The repeating variables should be chosen in such a way that one
variable contains geometric property, other contains flow property
and third contains fluid property
• The repeating variables selected should form a dimensionless
group
• The repeating variables together must contain all three
fundamental dimension i.e., MLT
• No two repeating variables should have the same dimensions.

Note: In most of fluid mechanics problems, the choice of

repeating variables may be (i) d, v, ρ, (ii) l, v, ρ or (iii) d, v, µ.
BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:
Q 1. The resisting force R of a supersonic plane during flight can
be considered as dependent upon the length of the aircraft l,
velocity V, air viscosity µ, air density ρ, and bulk modulus of air k.
Express the functional relationship between the variables and the
resisting force.
R  f (l,V , , , K )  f (R, l,V , , , K )  0
Total number of variables, n= 6
No. of fundamental dimension, m=3
No. of dimensionless  -terms, n-m=3
Thus: f (1, 2 ,  3 )  0
No. Repeating variables =m=3
Repeating variables =l,V , 
Thus π-terms are written as
1  l a1V b1  c1 R

 2  l a 2V b2  c 2 
a3 b3 c3
3  l V  K
BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:
Now each Pi-term is solved by the principle of dimensional
homogeneity
1  term  M o LoT o  La1 (LT 1 )b1 (ML3 )c1 MLT 2

Equating the powers of MLT on both sides, we get

Power of M: 0=c1 +1  c 1 =-1
Power of L: 0=a1 +b1 -3c1 +1  a1  2
Power of T: 0=-b1 -2  b1 =-2

 1  l-2V -2  -1 R   1  R
L2V 2
 2  term M o LoT o  La 2 (LT 1 )b 2 (ML3 )c2 ML1T 1

Equating the powers of MLT on both sides, we get

Power of M: 0  c 2 1  c 2  -1
Power of L: 0  a2  b2 - 3c2 -1 a2  1
Power of T: 0  -b2 -1 b2  -1

  2  l-1V -1 -1   2  

lV
BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:
3  term  M o LoT o
 La3 (LT 1 )b3 (ML3 )c3 ML1T 2
Equating the powers of MLT on both sides, we get
Power of M: 0  c 3 1 c 3  -1
Power of L: 0  a3  b3 - 3c3 -1 a3  0
Power of T: 0  -b3 - 2  b3  -2
K
 3  l V  K   2  2
0 -2 -1

V
Hence
 R  K 
f (1 2 3 )  f  2 2 , , 2   0 or
 l V lV  V  
R   K    K 
   ,   R   l V 
2 2
, 2 
l V
2 2
 lV  V  
2
lV  V  
BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:
Q 2. A thin rectangular plate having a width, w, and height, h, is located
so that it is normal to a moving stream of fluid. Assume the drag D, that
the fluid exerts on the plate is a function of w and h, the fluid viscosity
and density µ, and ρ, respectively, and velocity V of the fluid
approaching the plate. Determine a suitable set of pi terms to study this
problem experimentally
From the statement of problem, we can write:
D  f w,h, , ,V 
Total number of variables, n  6
Repeating variables
No. of fundamental dimension, m  3
w, , V
No. of pi terms, n - m  6 - 3  3

The dimension of variables using MLT system are

D  MLT -2 , w  L, hL
  ML1T 1
V  LT 1
BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:
Now the pi terms can be written as
a1 b1 c1 a2 b2 c2 a3 b3 c3
1  Dw V  ,  2  hw V  ,  3  w V 
For 1 :
a1 b1 c1
1  Dw V 

M 0 L0T 0  MLT 2 L a1 LT 1   ML 
b1 3 c1

For M : 0  1 c1
For L : 0  1 a1  b1 - 3c1
For T: 0  -2 - b1
Therefore, a1  -2, b1  -2 and c1  -1
2 2 1
1  D w V 
D
1  2 2
wV 
BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:
Now the pi terms can be written as
a1 b1 c1 a2 b2 c2 a3 b3 c3
1  D w V  ,  2  hw V  ,  3  w V 
For  2 :
a2 b2 c2
2hw V 
M 0 L0T 0  L L  a 2 LT 1 
ML3 
b2
 c2

For M : 0  c2
For L : 0  1 a 2  b 2 - 3c2
For T: 0  -b2
Therefore, a 2  -1, b 2  0 and c 2  0
1 0 0
 2  hw V 
h
2 
w
BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:
Now the pi terms can be written as
1  Dw V  ,  2  hw V  ,  3  w V 
a1 b1 c1 a3 b3 c3
a2 b2 c2

For  3 :
a3 b3 c3
 3  w V 
  
M 0 L0T 0  ML1T 1 L a3 LT 1  ML 
b3 3 c3

For M : 0  1 c3
For L : 0  1 a 3  b3 - 3c3
For T: 0  -1- b3
Therefore, a 3  1, b3  1 and c3  -1
1 1 1
 3  w V 
3  
wV 
BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:
Finally the results of dimensional analysis can be
represented in the form
 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,...,  nm   0
1   2 , 3 , 4 ,..., nm 
D w  
   , 

wV   h wV 
2 2
BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:

Let’s solve it now

BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM:

Let’s solve it now

BUCKINGHAM’S Π-THEOREM: