Scribd
Upload
65 views

Non Dimensional Numbers

Uploaded by

Netaa sachin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
65 views

Non Dimensional Numbers

Uploaded by

Netaa sachin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 29

Dimensional and Model Analysis

Lecture Notes:
Prof. RAVI KUMAR
School of Mechanical Engineering
SASTRA University, Thanjavur
Dimensional Analysis

• A tool to help one to get maximum information from


a minimum number of experiments

• facilitates a correlation of data with minimum number of plots.

• Can establish the scaling laws between models and prototype in


testing.
Dimensional Homogeneity
Methods of Dimensional Analysis
Rayleigh’s Method of Dimensional Analysis
Buckingham’s Pi- Theorem
Method of selecting Repeating Variables
Parameter Dimensions
Consider experimental studies of drag on a cylinder

Drag (F) depends upon


Flow Speed V, diameter d, viscosity , density of fluid 

Just imagine how many experiments are needed to study this


phenomenon completely ??

It may run into hundreds.


A dimensional analysis indicates that Cd and Reynolds number, Re
or the Mach number M can determine the Cd behaviour thus
making it necessary to perform only a limited number of
experiments.
Buckingham Pi Theorem
Consider a phenomenon described by an equation like
g = g(q1, q2, q3, ………..,qn)
where q1, q2, q3, ………..,qn are the independent variables .

If m is the number of independent dimensions required to


specify the dimensions of all q1, q2, q3, ………..,qn then one can
come up with a relation like,
G(1, 2, 3,  n-m) = 0

In other
where words
1,  the phenomenon can be described by
2, 3,  n-m are non-dimensional parameters.
n-m number of non-dimensional parameters.
Model Analysis
Important non-dimensional numbers in Fluid
Dynamics

•Reynolds Number Re
•Euler Number Eu
•Froude Number Fr
•Mach Number M
•Cavitation Number Ca
•Weber Number We
•Knudsen Number Kn
Reynolds Number, Re
Ratio of Inertial forces to Viscous forces.

 V 2 L2  VL
Re  
 VL 

• Flow at low Reynolds numbers are laminar


• Flows at large Reynolds numbers are usually turbulent.
• At low Reynolds numbers viscous effects are important
in a large region around a body.
• At higher Reynolds numbers viscous effects are confined
to a thin region around the body.
Euler’s Number, Eu

Square root Ratio of Inertial Force to Pressure force.

 AV V 2
Eu  
PA P

An important parameter in
Aerodynamics
Cavitation Number

In cavitation studies, p(see formula for Cp) is taken


as p - pv where
p is the liquid pressure and pv is the liquid vapour pressure,

The Cavitation number is given by

p  pv
Ca  1
2 V
2
Froude Number

Square of Froude Number related to the ratio of


Inertial to Gravity forces.

V
Fr 
gL
Important when free surfaces effects are significant

Fr < 1 Subcritical Flow


Fr > 1 Supercritical Flow
Weber Number
Ratio of square root of Inertia Force to Surface Tension
forces.

 AV 2 V
We  
L ( /  L)

Where  is surface tension


Mach Number

Could be interpreted as the square root ratio of


Inertial to Compressibility forces
V  V 2 L2 V
M M  2

c KL K

Where c is the local sonic speed, K is the Bulk Modulus
of Elasticity.

A significant parameter in Aerodynamics.

NOTE: For incompressible Flows, c = ф and M = 0.3


Similitude and Model Studies

For a study on a model to relate to that on a prototype


it is required that there be

Geometrical Similarity
Kinematic Similarity
Dynamic Similarity
Geometrical Similarity

Physical dimensions of model and prototype be similar

Hp Hm

Lm

Lp Lp Lm

Hp Hm
Geometrical Similarity
Kinematic Similarity
Dynamic Similarity

Forces at corresponding locations on


model and prototype are similar

Ftm
Ftp Fnm
Fnp Ft p Ft m

Fn p Fnm
Dynamic Similarity
Problem in Wind Tunnel testing

While testing models in wind tunnels it is required that following


non-dimensional parameters be preserved.

Reynolds Number
Mach Number

Cd = f (Re, M)
But the available wind tunnels do not permit both these numbers
to be preserved.
Solution for Wind Tunnel testing

Remedy is offered by nature itself

At low speeds viscous effects are more important than


the compressibility effects. So only Reynolds number be
preserved.
Cd = f (Re)

At higher speeds compressibility effects are dominating.


So only Mach number need be preserved.

Cd = f (M)
ANY QUERY ??

You might also like