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Dimensional Analysis and Similitude
Dimensional Analysis and Similitude
Similitude
CVEN 212
Spring 2021
Riyadh Al-Raoush, PhD, PE
Why?
Force parameter
dimensionless r
Mass (inertia) ______
m R
Viscosity ______
g ______
F
Gravitational ______
p ______
Cp
Pressure ______
s ______
W
Surface Tension ______ ______
K M
Elastic ______ ______
Inertia as our Reference Force
F=ma F a F f a
Fluids problems always (except for statics)
include a velocity (V), a dimension of flow
(or characteristic length) (l), and a density
(r) Ll
l
M T
f 2 2 V
LT
M l 3
Viscous Force
V2
fi V 2 V
fi
l F
fg g f g gl gl
Froude number
Pressure Force
M l
fp L2T 2 Ll T M l 3
Cp Cp
M
V
p LT 2 fi
V2
l
1 1
Cp Cp
L l
V2 p
Cp
fi l f i V 2
1
p
V 2
fp fp p 2
l
Pressure Coefficient
Dimensionless parameters
Vl
Reynolds Number R
V
F
Froude Number gl
V 2 l
Weber Number W
V
Mach Number M
c
2p
Pressure Coefficient Cp
V 2
2 FDrag 2 Flift
Drag/Lift Coefficient Cd CL
V 2 A V 2 A
Application of Dimensionless
Parameters
Pipe Flow
Model Studies and Similitude
dams: spillways, turbines, tunnels
harbors
rivers
ships
...
Example: Pipe Flow
D 0.05
f Cp 0.04
l 0.03
0.02
friction factor
0.015
0.01
0.008
0.006
0.004
D
laminar
0.002
0.001
0.0008
0.0004
0.0002
0.0001
0.00005
0.01 smooth
Examples
airfoils
automobiles, high-speed trains
flood-control structures
Model Studies and Similitude:
Scaling Requirements
geometric similitude
all linear dimensions must be scaled identically
roughness must scale
lm w m cm
Lr
lp w p cp
Ar L 2
r
r L 3
r
Model Studies and Similitude:
Scaling Requirements
dynamic similitude
the forces that act on corresponding masses in the
model and prototype must be in the same ratio
throughout the entire flow field
Fm/Fp = constant
streamlines must be geometrically similar
Mach __________,
_______, Reynolds _________, Weber
Froude and _________
numbers must be the same
Relaxed Similitude Requirements
Impossible to have all force ratios the same
same size
unless the model is the _____ ____ as the
prototype
Need to determine which forces are
important and attempt to keep those force
ratios the same
The requirement for similarity of flow between model
and prototype is that the significant dimensionless
parameters must be equal for model and prototype
Similitude Examples
Viscosity, roughness
Skin friction ______________
gravity
Wave drag (free surface effect) ________
Therefore we need ________
Reynolds and ______
Froude
similarity
2 FDrag
Cd f , R, F
V A
2
D
Reynolds and Froude Similarity?
Reynolds Froude
Vl V
R F
gl
mVmlm pV p l p Water is the only Vr L r
m p practical fluid
Vmlm V p l p
Vp lm
1
Vm lp Lr Lr = 1
1 Lr
Vr
Lr
Ship’s Resistance
Vm Dm V p D p Vp Dp
Vm
m p Dm
VD
Decrease kinematic viscosity R
Use a different fluid
Use water at a higher temperature
kinematic viscosity 20C (m2/s)
1.00E-07
1.00E-06
1.00E-05
1.00E-04
ca 1.00E-03
rb m
o n
er
cu
te ry
tra
ch
lo
rid
e
w
et at
hy er
la
lc
oh
ol
ke
ro
se
ne
ai
sa r
e 10
SA W
E
10
W
-3
0
SA
E
Kinematic Viscosity
30
gl
yc
er
in
e
Kinematic Viscosity (m /s) Kinematic Viscosity of Water
2.0E-06
2
1.5E-06
1.0E-06
5.0E-07
0.0E+00
0 20 40 60 80 100
Temperature (C)
Example: Valve Coefficient
Vm
0.367 x10 m / s (2.5m / s ) 0.6m
6 2
Vm = 6 m/s
1.52 x10 m / s 0.06m
6 2
Dimensional Analysis Summary
Dimensional analysis:
enables us to identify the important parameters in
a problem
simplifies our experimental protocol
does not tell us the coefficients or powers of the
dimensionless groups (need to be determined from
theory or experiments)
guides experimental work using small models to
study large prototypes