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Chapter 07

This document discusses dimensional analysis and Buckingham Pi theorem. It begins by explaining how dimensional analysis can be used to nondimensionalize equations and experimental data. It then describes Buckingham Pi theorem which provides a systematic way to identify a minimum set of dimensionless parameters that can describe a physical problem. The document outlines the key steps of the Buckingham Pi method and provides examples of its application to problems involving fluid flow, pressure drop, drag, and other physical situations. Finally, it discusses several important dimensionless groups that are commonly used in fluid mechanics problems.

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Nayak Swaraj Pankaj
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138 views26 pages

Chapter 07

This document discusses dimensional analysis and Buckingham Pi theorem. It begins by explaining how dimensional analysis can be used to nondimensionalize equations and experimental data. It then describes Buckingham Pi theorem which provides a systematic way to identify a minimum set of dimensionless parameters that can describe a physical problem. The document outlines the key steps of the Buckingham Pi method and provides examples of its application to problems involving fluid flow, pressure drop, drag, and other physical situations. Finally, it discusses several important dimensionless groups that are commonly used in fluid mechanics problems.

Uploaded by

Nayak Swaraj Pankaj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 7

Dimensional Analysis
How the pressure drop in a pipe may be affected
by several different factors.
Dpl  VD 
 
V 2
  

Plot of pressure drop data using dimensionless parameters.


Buckingham Pi Theorem

How many dimensionless products are required


to replace the original list of variables?

If an equation involving k variables is dimensionally


homogenous, it can be reduced to a relationship
among k-r independent dimensionless products,
where r is the minimum number of reference
dimensions required to describe the variables.
The dimensionless products are frequently referred to
as “pi terms”. Buckingham used the symbol  to
represent a dimensionless products.
Determination of Pi Terms
(Method of repeating variables)
Step 1: List all the variables that are involved in
the problem. Let k is the number of variables.
Step2: Express each of the variables in terms of
basic dimensions e.g., MLT or FLT. Let r be
the number of reference dimensions.
Step3: Determine the required number of Pi
terms. Is given by k-r.
Step 4: Select a number of repeating variables,
where the number required is equal to the
number of reference dimensions.
Points to be considered in selecting the
repeating variables.

i. r repeating variables must contain jointly all


the reference dimensions involved in the
process.
ii. The repeating variables selected should not
form a dimensionless group.
iii. As far as possible, the dependant variable
should not be selected as repeating variable.
iv. No two repeating variables should have the
same dimensions.
v. Chosen such a way that one variable contains
geometric property (length, diameter, height),
other variable contains flow property
(velocity, acceleration) and third variable
contains fluid property (density, viscosity).
Step 5: Form a Pi term by multiplying one of the
non-repeating variables by the product of the
repeating variables, each raised to an exponent
that will make the combination dimensionless.
Step 6: Repeat step 5 for each of the remaining
non-repeating variables.
Step 7: Check all the resulting Pi terms to make
sure they are dimensionless.
(Q)Steady flow of an incompressible Newtonian
fluid through a long, smooth-walled, horizontal
pipe. Pressure drop per unit length, Δpl along
the pipe can be expressed as
pl  f  D,  , ,V 
Where D is the pipe diameter, ρ and µ are fluid
density and viscosity respectively, and V is the
mean velocity. Determine a suitable set of
dimensionless parameters.
(Q) A thin rectangular plate having a width ‘W’ and
a 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, ρ,
respectively, and velocity, V, of the fluid
approaching the plate. Determine a suitable set of
pi terms to satisfy this problem experimentally.

D  f W , h, ,  ,V 
(Q) An open, cylindrical tank having a diameter D is
supported around its bottom circumference and
filled to a depth h with a liquid having a specific
weight γ. The vertical deflection, δ, of the center of
the bottom is a function of D, h, d, γ, and E, where
d is the thickness of the bottom and E is the
modulus of elasticity of the bottom material.
Perform a dimensional analysis of this problem.

  f  D, h, d ,  , E 
(Q) When a small pebble is dropped into a liquid,
small waves travel onward as shown in figure. The
speed of these waves, C, is assumed to be a
function of the liquid density, ρ, the wave length, λ,
the wave length, h, and the surface tension of the
liquid, σ. Use h, ρ, and σ as repeating variables to
determine a suitable set of Pi terms that could be
used to describe this problem.
Main Topics

• Nondimensionalizing the Basic


Differential Equations
• Nature of Dimensional Analysis
• Buckingham Pi Theorem
• Significant Dimensionless Groups
in Fluid Mechanics
Nondimensionalizing the Basic
Differential Equations
Example:
• Steady
• Incompressible
• Two-dimensional
• Newtonian Fluid
Nature of Dimensional Analysis

Example: Drag on a Sphere

 Drag depends on FOUR parameters:


sphere size (D); speed (V); fluid density (); fluid
viscosity ()
 Difficult to know how to set up experiments to
determine dependencies
 Difficult to know how to present results (four
graphs?)
Nature of Dimensional Analysis

Example: Drag on a Sphere

 Only one dependent and one independent


variable
 Easy to set up experiments to determine
dependency
 Easy to present results (one graph)
Nature of Dimensional Analysis
Buckingham Pi Theorem

• Step 1:
List all the dimensional parameters involved

Let n be the number of parameters

Example: For drag on a sphere, F, V, D, , ,


and n = 5
Buckingham Pi Theorem

• Step 2
Select a set of fundamental (primary)
dimensions

For example MLt, or FLt

Example: For drag on a sphere choose MLt


Buckingham Pi Theorem
• Step 3
List the dimensions of all parameters in terms of
primary dimensions

Let r be the number of primary dimensions

Example: For drag on a sphere r = 3


Buckingham Pi Theorem
• Step 4
Select a set of r dimensional parameters that
includes all the primary dimensions

Example: For drag on a sphere (m = r = 3)


select , V, D
Buckingham Pi Theorem
• Step 5
Set up dimensional equations, combining the
parameters selected in Step 4 with each of the
other parameters in turn, to form dimensionless
groups

There will be n – m equations

Example: For drag on a sphere


Buckingham Pi Theorem
• Step 5 (Continued)

Example: For drag on a sphere


Buckingham Pi Theorem
• Step 6
Check to see that each group obtained is
dimensionless

Example: For drag on a sphere


Significant Dimensionless
Groups in Fluid Mechanics
• Reynolds Number

• Froude Number

Mach Number

Weber Number
Significant Dimensionless
Groups in Fluid Mechanics

• Euler Number

Cavitation Number

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