Chapter 4: Dimensional Analysis and Similitude of

Turbomachines
• Dimensional analysis is found to be a very useful tool in fluid flow analysis.
• In dimensional analysis the number of parameters can be reduced generally
to three by grouping relevant variables to form dimensionless parameters.
• In addition these groups facilitate the presentation of the results of the
experiments effectively and also to generalize the results so that these can be
applied to similar situations.
• In dimensional analysis all physical relationships can be reduced to the
fundamental quantities of force F, length L, and time T, (and temperature in
case of heat).

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Methods of Determination of Dimensionless Groups

• The basic procedures usually used in dimensional

analysis are:
 Intuitive method:
• This method relies on basic understanding of the
phenomenon and then identifying competing
quantities like types of forces or lengths etc. and
obtaining ratios of similar quantities.
• Some examples are: Viscous force vs inertia force,
viscous force vs gravity force or roughness
dimension vs diameter.

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 Methods of Determination of Dimensionless Groups Contd

Rayleigh method:
• In Rayleigh Method A functional power relation is assumed between the parameters
and then the values of indices are solved for to obtain the grouping.
• For example considering a problem in which the drag force F on a stationary sphere
in flow is found to depend on diameter D, velocity u, fluid density ρ and viscosity μ.
• To obtain a curve F vs u, for fixed values of ρ, μ and D one can write
 

• The values of a, b, c, d, and e are obtained by comparing the dimensions on both

sides. The dimensions on the L.H.S. being zero as π terms are dimensionless.

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Methods of Determination of Dimensionless Groups Contd

Buckingham Pi theorem method

• One important procedure usually used in
dimensional analysis is the Buckingham
π theorem.
• The statement of the theorem is as
follows: If a relation among n
parameters exists in the form
f (q1, q2, ........ qn) = 0 (1)
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Buckingham Pi theorem method Contd

• Equation (1)above implies that the n parameters can be

grouped into n – m independent dimensionless ratios or π
parameters, expressed in the form

• or

• where m is the number of dimensions required to specify

the dimensions of all the parameters, q1, q2, .... qn.

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 Determination of π Groups
Step1. List all the parameters that influence the phenomenon concerned.
• Usually three type of parameters may be identified in fluid flow namely
fluid properties,
geometry and
flow parameters like velocity and pressure.

Step2. Select a set of primary dimensions, (mass, length and time), (force,
length and time), (mass, length, time and temperature) are some of the sets
used popularly.

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 Determination of π Groups Contd
Step3. List the dimensions of all parameters in
terms of the chosen set of primary dimensions.
• Table below Lists the dimensions of various
parameters involved.

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Units and Dimensions of Variables

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Determination of π Groups Contd
Step 4. Select from the list of parameters a set
of repeating parameters equal to the number of
primary dimensions.
• Some guidelines are necessary for the choice.
(i) the chosen set should contain all the dimensions
(ii) two parameters with same dimensions should
not be chosen. Say L, L2, L3,
(iii) the dependent parameter to be determined
should not be chosen.
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Determination of π Groups Contd
Step 5. Set up a dimensional equation with the
repeating set and one of the remaining
parameters, in turn to obtain n – m such equations
• To determine π terms numbering n – m. The form
of the equation is,

• The solution of these set of equations will give the

values of a, b, c and d. Thus the π term will be
defined.
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Determination of π Groups Contd
Step 6. Check whether π terms obtained are dimensionless. This
step is essential before proceeding with experiments to determine
the functional relationship between the π terms.
Note:
• If the number of fundamental dimensions is k, the number of terms
will be equal to (n-k).
• The first π term can be expressed as the product of the chosen
quantities each to an unknown exponent and the other quantity to a
known power (usually taken as one).
• For each term, solve for the unknown exponent by dimensional
analysis.
• Any term can be replaced by any power of that term π1 by π12, or by
1/π1, also any term can be multiplied by a numerical constant.
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 Determination of π Groups Contd
• If we want to find the force on a propeller blade we must first decide what might influence this
force.
• It would be reasonable to assume that the force, F, depends on the following physical properties:
d - diameter,
u - forward velocity of the propeller (velocity of the plane),
ρ - fluid density, N -revolutions per second, μ - fluid viscosity
Before we do any analysis we can write this equation:
• F = f ( d, u, ρ , N, μ)
or
• 0 = f1 ( F, d, u, ρ , N, μ )
• where and f and f1 are unknown functions.

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 Determination of π Groups Contd
• These can be expanded into an infinite series which can itself be reduced to
F = K dm up dm up ρq Nr μs
• where K is some constant and m, p, q, r, s are unknown constant powers.
• From dimensional analysis we
1. obtain these powers
2. form the variables into several dimensionless groups
• The value of K or the functions and 1 must be determined from experiment.
The knowledge of the dimensionless groups often helps in deciding what
experimental measurements should be taken.

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 Worked Example
• The pressure drop ΔP per unit length in flow through a
smooth circular pipe is found to depend on (i) the flow
velocity, u (ii) diameter of the pipe, D (iii) density of the
fluid ρ, and (iv) the dynamic viscosity μ.
(a) Using π theorem method, evaluate the dimensionless
parameters for the flow.
(b) Using Rayleigh method (power index) evaluate the
dimensionless parameters.
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Solution
• Choosing the set mass, time and length as primary dimensions,
the dimensions of the parameters are tabulated .

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There are five parameters and three dimensions. Hence two π terms can be
obtained.
As ΔP is the dependent variable D, ρ and u are chosen as repeating variables.

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This term may be recognised as inverse of Reynolds number. So
π2 can be modified as π2 = uρD/μ also π2 = (uD/v).
The significance of this π term is that it is the ratio of inertia
force to viscous force. 21
•In case D, u and μ had been chosen as the
repeating variables, π1 = ΔPD2/u μ
• and π2 = ρDu/μ.
• The parameter π1/π2 will give the
dimensionless term ΔP D/ρU2
•In this case π1 represents the ratio pressure
force/viscous force.
•This flow phenomenon is influenced by the
three forces namely pressure force, viscous
force and inertia force.

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Rayleigh method(a.k.a method of Indices)
• The following functional relationship is formed first.
• There can be two p terms as there are five variables and three
dimensions ∆PaDbρcμdue = (p1 p2),

• Substituting dimensions ,

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Rayleigh method Contd
• There are five unknowns and three equations.
• Hence some assumptions are necessary based on the nature of the
phenomenon.
• As ∆P, the dependent variable can be considered to appear only
once.
• We can assume a = 1.
• Similarly, studying the forces, μ appears only in the viscous force.
• So we can assume d = 1.
• Solving a = 1, d = 1, b = 0, c = – 2, e = – 3, (p1 p2) = ∆Pμ/ρ2 u3.
• Multiply and divide by D, then p1 = ∆P D/ρU2 and p2 = μ/ρuD.
• Same as was obtained by pi theorem method.
• This method requires more expertise and understanding of the basics
of the phenomenon.
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Important Dimensionless Parameters

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