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Dimensional analysis

CHEE 3363
Spring 2014
Handout 17

Reading: Fox, 7.37.5


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Learning objectives for lecture
1. Apply the Buckingham Pi Theorem to determine functional
dependence on given parameters.
2. Derive the dimensionless form of the Navier-Stokes equations.
3. Defne the common dimensionless groups in fuid mechanics
and state their physical meaning.
4. Contrast kinematic similarity, dynamic similarity, and geometric
similarity.
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Dimensional analysis
What kind of questions can we answer using dimensional
analysis?
Procedure: Buckingham Pi Theorem
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Procedure for fnding parameters
Given: a problem in which the dependent parameter is a function of n - 1
independent parameters:
Need: n - m dimensionless ratios, where m is (usually) equal to the
minimum number of independent dimensions required to specify the
dimensions of all the parameters.
1. List all dimensional parameters involved
2. Select a set of fundamental (primary) dimensions
3. List the dimensions of all parameters in terms of primary
dimensions
4. Select a set of r dimensional parameters that includes all the
primary dimensions (do not include dependent parameter)
5. Set up dimensional equations, combining parameters in Step 4
with each of other parameters in turn to form dimensionless
groups
6. Check to see that each group obtained is dimensionless
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Swinging pendulum via Buckingham Pi 1
5
Given: the period T is a function of pendulum length L, bob mass m, and
gravity g
Find: the dimensionless group(s)
1. List all dimensional parameters involved
Recall from handout 1:
T =
s
L
g
2. Select a set of fundamental primary dimensions
Swinging pendulum via Buckingham Pi 2
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Given: the period T is a function of pendulum length L, bob mass m, and
gravity g
Find: the dimensionless group(s)
3. List dimensions of all parameters in terms of primary dimensions
4. Select a set of r dimensional parameters that includes all the primary
dimensions (but do not include dependent parameter)
Swinging pendulum via Buckingham Pi 3
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Given: the period T is a function of pendulum length L, bob mass m, and
gravity g
Find: the dimensionless group(s)
5. Set up dimensional equations, combining parameters in Step 4 with
each of other parameters in turn to form dimensionless groups
Swinging pendulum via Buckingham Pi 4
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Given: the period T is a function of pendulum length L, bob mass m, and
gravity g
Find: the dimensionless group(s)
6. Check to see that each group obtained is dimensionless
Application to Navier-Stokes
The Buckingham Pi theorem is a procedure that allows us to
identify dimensionless groups
- This allows us to determine the important combination of
parameters for an experimental system without having to do
every experiment!
We will now apply dimensional analysis to non-dimensionalize
the Navier-Stokes equations and gain further physical insight
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F = f(D, V, , )
F
V
2
D
2
= f

V D

Dimensional analysis motivation


Goal: determine key combination of parameters for fuids problems
e.g. consider drag force on sphere
diameter
velocity
density
viscosity
Testing complete dependence of drag force on all parameters would take
an extremely long time
Instead, we will show that we can describe the problem completely with two
dimensionless parameters:
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Example: drag force on a sphere 1
1. List all dimensional parameters involved
2. Select a set of fundamental primary dimensions
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3. List dimensions of all parameters in terms of primary dimensions
Example: drag force on a sphere 2
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4. Select a set of r dimensional parameters that includes all the primary
dimensions (but do not include dependent parameter)
5. Set up dimensional equations, combining parameters in Step 4 with
each of other parameters in turn to form dimensionless groups
Example: drag force on a sphere 3
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5. Set up dimensional equations, combining parameters in Step 4 with
each of other parameters in turn to form dimensionless groups
Example: drag force on a sphere 4
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So, for drag fow on a sphere, the solution can be written as:
Note that dimensional analysis simply tells you what combination of
parameters appears in the solution; in particular, the functional form of f
must still be determined by solving!
Also note: the choice of {,V,D} as repeating parameters is generally a good
choice, because inertial forces are important in most fluids problems
6. Check to see that each group obtained is dimensionless
Non-dimensionalizing the equations 1
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Consider: steady incompressible 2-d Newtonian fuid with constant viscosity
Continuity:
Navier-Stokes:
x:
y:
Coupled nonlinear PDEs for u, v, p diffcult to solve
Units of each equation:

Continuity:

N-S:
Goal: put all equations in dimensionless form (i.e. no units)
u
x
+
v
y
= 0

u
u
x
+v
u
y

=
p
x
+

2
u
x
2
+

2
u
y
2

u
v
x
+v
v
y

= g
p
y
+

2
v
x
2
+

2
v
y
2

Non-dimensionalizing the equations 2


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Procedure: divide lengths by a characteristic length, and velocities by a
characteristic velocity
Note: we also need to non-dimensionalize the pressure -- what to use?
[Pressure] = [force / area] = [M/ LT
2
] = [(M/L
3
)(L
2
/T
2
)] = [density velocity
2
]
Substitute terms into the equations:
Non-dimensionalizing the equations 3
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Substitute terms into the equations:
Result:
Continuity:
Navier-Stokes:
x:
y:
Non-dimensionalizing the equations 4
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Divide continuity equation by V / L and N-S by V
2
/ L:
Continuity:
Navier-Stokes:
x:
y:
What we have done: shown that solutions depend on two dimensionless
parameters:
Magnitude of these parameters tells us whether gravity or viscosity is
important useful insight into problem even before solving!
If viscosity is small:

Neglect viscosity in MOST of the fow - in thin boundary layer,


will always have an effect of viscosity
- Related to the fact that we lose a boundary condition by
going from 2
nd
order to 1
st
order equation
Non-dimensional forms of equations allow us to determine
which physical forces are dominant in a problem
Comments on non-dimensional eqns
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Forces in fuid mechanics
Consider common forces that act on fuids:
Inertial force
Viscous force
Pressure force
Gravity force
Surface tension force
Compressibility force
How do we determine which of these forces are more important?
Compare magnitudes of forces using dimensionless parameters
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Dimensionless groups in fuid mechanics
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=
V
2
L
2
V L
=
V L

Reynolds number Re =
inertial force
viscous force
=
pL
2
V
2
L
2

p
1
2
V
2
Euler number Eu =
pressure force
inertial force
(factor of introduced so that denominator is dynamic pressure)
p p
vapor
1
2
V
2
Cavitation number Ca =
=
V
2
L
2
gL
3
=
V
2
gL
Froude number Fr
2
=
inertial force
gravity force
(square is for historical reasons)
=
V
2
L
2
L
=
V
2
L

Weber number We =
inertial force
surface tension force
=
V
2
L
2
E
v
L
2
=
V
2
E
v
/
=
V
2
c
2
Mach number M
2
=
inertial force
compressibility force
Comments on similarity analysis
Requirements for a model to successfully capture fow
phenomena on a full-scale prototype:
- Geometric similarity:
- Kinematic similarity:
- Dynamic similarity:
Kinematic similarity requires geometric similarity (bounding
streamlines also must scale)
Kinematic similarity is a necessary but not suffcient condition
for dynamic similarity
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