Dimensional_analysis_MENG315
Dimensional_analysis_MENG315
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
1. Dimensional Analysis and Dimensional Homogeneity
Dimensional analysis
❖is a computational technique which makes use of the study of the
dimensions of quantities to analyze and solve diverse engineering
problems.
❖To do this, we leverage on the fact that; each physical phenomenon can
be modelled (expressed) in terms of relevant quantities that influence
the cause, effect and behaviour of a system by an equation.
❖The relevant quantities can be dimensional and non-dimensional as the
case maybe.
❖In dimensional analysis, we find a systematic arrangement of the
variables to give us a set of dimensional quantities.
❖This technique is widely used in analyzing and modelling fluid systems.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
Dimensional analysis is very useful in the following ways:
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
Advantages of dimensional analysis
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
❖ It enables setting up a theoretical equation in a simplified dimensional form.
❖ Dimensional analysis provides partial solutions to the problems that are too
complex to be dealt with mathematically.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
❖ Other quantities which are expressed in terms of the fundamental ones are
called derived/ secondary quantities.
❖ The dimensions of derived quantities are expressed in terms of the dimensions
of the fundamental quantities.
❖ Some commonly encountered derived quantities are: area, velocity, volume,
density, pressure etc.
❖ The dimensions of derived physical quantities can be expressed in the Mass-
Length-Time (M-L-T) system,
❖ or the Force-Length-Time (F-L-T) system.
❖ Some engineers prefer the use of force to mass as a fundamental quantity
because the force can be easily measured.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
❖ Some quantities (fundamental and derived) used in thermo-fluids phenomena
Quantity and symbol SI-Unit Dimensions
M-L-T System F-L-T System
(A) Fundamental quantities
Length (𝐿, 𝑙) 𝑚 L L
Mass (𝑀, 𝑚) 𝐾𝑔 M F
Time (𝑇, 𝑡) 𝑠 T T
(B) Geometric quantities
Area (𝐴, 𝑎) 𝑚2 L2 L2
Volume (𝑉) 𝑚3 L3 L3
Moment of inertia (𝐼) 𝑚4 L4 L4
(C) Kinematic quantities
Linear velocity (𝑢, 𝑉, 𝑈) 𝑚𝑠 −1 LT −1 LT −1
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
Density () 𝑘𝑔𝑚−3 ML−3 FL−4 T 2
Acceleration (a) 𝑚𝑠 −2 LT −2 LT −2
Dynamic viscosity() 𝑘𝑔𝑚−1 𝑠 −1 ML−1 T −1 FL−2
Specific weight (w) 𝑘𝑔𝑚−2 𝑠 −2 ML−2 T −2 FL−3
Pressure (p); shear stress () 𝑘𝑔𝑚−1 𝑠 −2 ML−1 T −2 FL−2
Modulus of elasticity, (E,K) 𝑘𝑔𝑚−1 𝑠 −2 ML−1 T −2 FL−2
Momentum 𝑘𝑔𝑚𝑠 −1 MLT −1 FT
Angular momentum/moment of momentum 𝑘𝑔𝑚2 𝑠 −1 ML2 T −1 FLT
Work (W); energy, E 𝑘𝑔𝑚2 𝑠 −2 ML2 T −2 FL
Torque (T) 𝑘𝑔𝑚2 𝑠 −2 ML2 T −2 FL
Power (P) 𝑘𝑔𝑚2 𝑠 −3 ML2 T −3 FLT −1
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FLUID MECHANICS 2-MENG 315/FBC/USL/STN
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
(E) Thermodynamic quantities
Temperature (a) 𝐾
Thermal conductivity (k) 𝑘𝑔𝑚−1 𝑠 −3 𝐾 −1 ML−1 T −3 −1 FT −1 −1
Specific enthalpy 𝑚2 𝑠 −2 L2 T −2 L2 T −2
Gas constant (R) 𝑚2 𝑠 −2 𝐾 −1 L2 T −2 −1 L2 T −2 −1
Entropy (S) 𝑘𝑔𝑚2 𝑠 −2 𝐾 −1 ML2 T −2 −1 FL −1
Specific internal energy 𝑚2 𝑠 −2 L2 T −2 L2 T −2
Rate of Heat transfer 𝑘𝑔𝑚2 𝑠 −3 ML2 T −3 FLT −1
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
Dimensional homogeneity
❖ The correctness of any physical equation used to model the relationship
between any set of quantities
❖ can be assessed by establishing a case of the dimensional homogeneity of every
term in the equation.
❖ The situation is summed up in an axiom referred to as the principle of
dimensional homogeneity;
❖ This principle states that “ every term in an equation when reduced to
fundamental dimensions must contain identical powers of each dimension”.
❖ It must be noted that dimensionally homogeneous equations are applicable to
all systems of unit.
❖ Only quantities having the same dimensions can be added in any equation
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
Example 1.0. Establish that the equation 𝒗 = 𝒖 + 𝒂𝒕 is a correct
relationship between the kinematic properties of a moving particle
(𝒖=initial velocity, 𝒗 = final velocity, 𝒂 =acceleration, and 𝒕 =time).
Solution
Dimensions of 𝐯 = LT −1 , 𝐮 = LT −1 , 𝐚 = LT −2 andm 𝐭 = T
So from 𝒗 = 𝒖 + 𝒂𝒕 ;
Solution
Dimensions of 𝐦 in terms of basic dimensions = M
Dimensions of 𝐜 and in terms of basic dimensions = LT −1
1
Since 𝒄 and have the same dimensions, it implies that − 1 is
2− 𝑐
2
dimensionless, so;
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
2
Dimension of E = Dimension of m dimension of c
= M LT −1 2
= ML2 T −2
Hence, 𝑬 has the dimension of energy.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
2. Methods for Dimensional analysis
❖ With the aid of dimensional analysis, the equation relating the relevant
quantities
❖ that influence a physical phenomenon can be derived in terms of
dimensionless groups.
❖ This can then result in the reduction of the number of variables.
❖ The methods of dimensional analysis are based on principle of dimensional
homogeneity.
❖ The methods for dimensional analysis developed thus far are as follows:
i. Rayleigh’s method
ii. Buckingham-
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
iii. Bridgman method
iv. Matrix-tensor method
v. Visual inspection of variables method
vi. Rearrangement of differential equation method.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
❖ Where 𝑪 is a constant and 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 … are the arbitrary powers.
❖ The values of 𝒂, 𝒃, 𝒄 … 𝑛 are obtained by comparing the powers of the
fundamental dimensions on both sides.
❖ Thus the expression is obtained for the dependent variable.
❖ When the number of unknowns is more than the number of fundamental
dimensions,
❖ we can solve for the unknown powers in terms of power of the quantity
that is most significant.
❖ The significance of a quantity is measured in terms the number
fundamental dimensions that it is made up of.
❖ The higher the number of fundamental dimensions the more significant.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
Example 3.0.
Find an expression for the drag force 𝑭 on a smooth sphere of diameter 𝑫,
moving with a uniform velocity 𝒗 in a fluid of density 𝝆 and dynamic viscosity
𝝁.
Solution
Consider the table of variables, their symbols, and dimensions below.
S/N Variables symbols Dimensions
1. Drag force 𝑭 MLT −2
2. Diameter 𝑫 L
3. Velocity 𝒗 LT −1
4. Density 𝝆 ML−3
5. Dynamic viscosity 𝝁 ML−1 T −1
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
❖ The dependent variable is 𝑭, and the independent variables are 𝑫, 𝒗, 𝝆, and
.
❖ So the functional relationship between the variables will be.
𝐹 = 𝐶 𝐷𝑎 . 𝑣 𝑏 . 𝜌𝑐 . 𝜇𝑑
𝐹 = 𝐶 𝐷𝑎 . 𝑣 𝑏 . 𝜌𝑐 . 𝜇𝑑
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
𝐹 = 𝐶 𝐷𝟐−𝒅 . 𝑣 𝟐−𝒅 . 𝜌𝟏−𝒅 . 𝜇𝑑
𝐹 = 𝐶 𝐷2 . 𝐷 −𝑑 . 𝑣 2 . 𝑣 −𝑑 . 𝜌. 𝜌−𝑑 . 𝜇𝑑
𝝁
𝑭= 𝝆𝑫𝟐 𝒗𝟐
𝝆𝒗𝑫
Example 4.0. The efficiency of a fan of a fan depends on the density 𝝆, the
dynamic viscosity 𝝁 of the fluid, the angular velocity 𝝎, diameter 𝑫, of the
rotor and the discharge 𝑸. Express in terms of dimensionless parameters.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
Solution
Consider the table of variables involved in fluid phenomenon, their symbols,
and dimensions below.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
The dependent variable is , and the independent variables are 𝑫, 𝝎, 𝝆, . and
𝑸. So the functional relationship between the variables will be.
= 𝐶 𝐷 𝑎 . 𝜔𝑏 . 𝜌𝑐 . 𝜇 𝑑 . 𝑄 𝑒
𝑀0 𝐿0 𝑇 0 = 𝐶 𝐿 𝑎. 𝑇 −1 𝑏 . 𝑀𝐿−3 𝑐 . 𝑀𝐿−1 𝑇 −1 𝑑 . 𝐿3 𝑇 −1 𝑒
0 = 𝑐 + 𝑑……….…..………… 𝑖
For 𝐿, we have;
0 = 𝑎 − 3𝑐 − 𝑑 + 3𝑒 … … … . . (𝑖𝑖)
For 𝑇, we have;
0 = −𝑏 − 𝑑 − 𝑒 … … … … … . (𝑖𝑖𝑖)
We have five unknowns to solve for in three equations. This is not possible
without solving for some unknowns in terms of others. So from the table of
variables and their dimensions, we can see that, of the five independent
variables, 𝝁 and 𝑸 are the most important, since the dimension of 𝝁 consists of
all three fundamental dimensions (𝑀𝐿 and 𝑇) and 𝑸 has two of three 29
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
dimensions and the highest positive index. We can solve for 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 in terms of 𝑑
and 𝑒 we have;
From equation (𝑖); 0 = 𝑐 + 𝑑 𝒄 = −𝒅
From equation (𝑖𝑖𝑖); 0 = −𝑏 − 𝑑 − 𝑒 𝒃 = −𝒅 − 𝒆
From equation (𝑖𝑖); 0 = 𝑎 − 3𝑐 − 𝑑 + 3𝑒 𝑎 = 3𝑐 + 𝑑 − 3𝑒
𝒂 = 3 −𝑑 + 𝑑 − 3𝑒 = −𝟐𝒅 − 𝟑𝒆
Now
= 𝐶 𝐷 𝑎 . 𝜔𝑏 . 𝜌𝑐 . 𝜇 𝑑 . 𝑄 𝑒
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
Solution
Consider the table of variables involved in fluid phenomenon, their symbols, and
dimensions below.
∆𝑝 = 𝐶 𝐷𝑎 . 𝑙 𝑏 . 𝜌𝑐 . 𝜇𝑑 . 𝑉 𝑒 . 𝑡 𝑓
Replacing the variables by their dimensions we have;
∆𝑝 = 𝐶 𝜌. 𝑉 𝟐 . 𝐷 −𝑏 . 𝑙 𝑏 . 𝜇𝑑 . 𝐷 −𝑑 . 𝜌−𝒅 . 𝑉 −𝒅 . 𝐷 −𝑓 . 𝑡 𝑓
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS AND SIMILARITY
𝑏 𝑑 𝑓
𝑙 𝜇 𝑡
∆𝑝 = 𝜌𝑉 𝟐 𝐶 . .
𝐷 𝜌𝑉𝐷 𝐷
𝒍 𝝁 𝒕
∆𝒑 = 𝝆𝑽𝟐 . .
𝑫 𝝆𝑽𝑫 𝑫
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