Similarity and dimensional

analysis
Section
Alexandria University-Faculty of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Fluid mechanics
2nd year mechanical
Eng/ Abdelrahman Elmaradny
 Geometric similarity
Types of
similarities Kinematic similarity

Dynamic similarity
 Reduce number of variables

Importance Prototyping of model

and
advantages
Deduce equations in dimensionless form

A good tool in experimental work and

generalizes the experimental data
Buckingham Pi theorem
• Find using theorem a formula for the fluid resistance F to an
immersed body of length l , width moving with velocity V in fluid
density and viscosity . If a 1:10 model of a motor car is tested in a
wind tunnel in order to determine the air resistance to the full scale
car, what should be the corresponding air speed in the wind tunnel
for a car speed of 60 Km/hr ?
• If at this speed the air force on the model was 1800 N, what do you
expect the air resistance to the car to be at 60 Km/hr ?
• Step 1: List all the variables in our problem.
F Dependent/main variable
l

V Independent
variables

N [Link] variables = 6
• Step 2: Breakdown the variables into the primary dimensions
−2
F→ . →
l→
→
−1
V→ →

Mass −3
→ →
Volume
−1 −2
F/ A −1 −1
→ → → −1
→
/ V/ y
• Step 3: Choose repeating variables
N otes:
1. No. of repeating variables = No. of primary dimensions =3
2. Don’t choose the Main/Dependent variable “F”
3. When multiplying repeating variables all primary dimensions must
appear
4. Don’t repeat variables with same dimensions
5. Don’t pick dimensionless variables
6. It is preferable to pick simple parameters
7. It is preferable to pick repeating variables belonging to different
categories (Dimension, fluid properties, Kinematics)
• Step 3: Choose repeating variables

−2
F→
l→ Geometric Dimensions
→
−1
Kinematics
V→
−3 Fluid properties
→
−1 −1
→

Choose : , ,
• Step 4: Calculate the number of dimensionless groups

N [Link] dimensionless groups = N [Link] variables – N [Link] repeating

variables
=6-3
=3

N [Link] dimensionless groups =3

• Step 5: Form groups
= 1 2 3

1 1 1
1
=
2 2 2
2
=
3 3 3
3
=
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
1 1 1
1
=

0 0 0
1
→ →

0 0 0 −3 1 −1 1 1 −2
=( ) ( )

M: 0= 1 +1

1
=−1
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
0 0 0 −3 −1 −1 1 1 −2
=( ) ( )
T: 0=− 1 −2

1
=−2

0 0 0 −3 −1
=( ) ( −1)−2 1 −2

L: 0=3−2+ 1 +1

1
=−2
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
−1 −2 −2
1
=

1
= 22
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
2 2 2
2
=

0 0 0
2
→ →

0 0 0 −3 2 −1 2 2 −1 −1
=( ) ( )

M: 0= 2 +1

2
=−1
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
0 0 0 −3 −1 −1 2 2 −1 −1
=( ) ( )
T: 0=− 2 −1

2
=−1

0 0 0 −3 −1
=( ) ( −1)−1 2 −1 −1

L: 0=3−1+ 2 −1

2
=−1
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
−1 −1 −1
2
=

2
=

′ 1
2
= = =
2
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
3 3 3
3
=

0 0 0
3
→ →

0 0 0 −3 3 −1 3 3
=( ) ( )

M: 0= 3 +0

3
=0
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
0 0 0 −1 3 3
=( )
T: 0=− 3 +0

3
=0

0 0 0
= 3
L: 0=0+0+ 3 +1

3
=−1
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
0 0 −1
3
=

3
=
• Dimensionless groups:

1
= 22

Dynamic similarity
2
=
Geometric
similarity
3
=

=( , )
• Finding model velocity corresponding to actual car velocity

22
= ( 2, 3)

For dynamic similarity

2
| = 2​
​ |

| =
​ |
​

Same flow conditions : = & =

• Finding model velocity corresponding to actual car velocity

Model : Car scale = 1 : 10

=10

60 1
=
10

=600 /h
• Finding car Force corresponding to model Force from experimental data

22
( 2, 3)​
|
= 22
( 2, 3)​
|
For dynamic and geometric similarity :
2
| = 2​
​ |

3
| = 3​
​ |

For same medium

|
​ = |
​
• Finding car Force corresponding to model Force from experimental
data

22
|
​
= 22
|
​

60 2 10 2
=( )( )
1800 600 1

= =1800
Deduce by the theorem of dimensional analysis, a formula for the
discharge over a V-notch and show that the coefficient of discharge of a
weir is a function of Froude number. ( Discharge Q varies with head H,
gravitational acceleration g, velocity of approach V and weir angle )
• Step 1: List all the variables in our problem.
Q Dependent/main variable
H
g
V Independent
variables

N [Link] variables = 5
• Step 2: Breakdown the variables into the primary dimensions
Volume 3 −1
Q→ →
time
−2
g→
H→
−1
V→ →

N [Link] dimensions = 2 (L,T)

• Step 3: Choose repeating variables

3 −1
Q→
−2
g→ Kinematics
−1
V→
H→ Geometry

Choose : ,
• Step 4: Calculate the number of dimensionless groups

N [Link] dimensionless groups = N [Link] variables – N [Link] repeating

variables
=5-2
=3

N [Link] dimensionless groups =3

• Step 5: Form groups
= 1 2

1 1
1
=
2 2
2
=
3 3
3
=
• Step 6: Find variables a,b
1 1
1
=

0 0
1
→ →

0 0 −2 1 3 −1
=( ) 1( )

T: 0=−2 1
−1

1
• Step 6: Find variables a,b
1
−
0 0 −2 2 3 −1
=( ) 1( )
1
L: 0= 1 − +3
2

5
1
=−
2

−5/ 2 −1/ 2
1
=
• Step 6: Find variables a,b
2 2
2
=

0 0
1
→ →

0 0 −2 1 −1
=( ) 1( )

T: 0=−2 2
−1

1
• Step 6: Find variables a,b
1
−
0 0 −2 2 −1
=( ) 1( )
1
L: 0= 1 − +1
2

1
1
=−
2

−1/ 2 −1/ 2 Froud number

2
=
• Dimensionless groups:

1
= 5
2

Dynamic similarity

2
=
Geometric
similarity
3
=

=( , )
• Dimensionless groups:

5
= ( , )
2

5
8 2
= tan ( ) 2
15 2

= ( )
The thrust T of an air plane propeller depends upon the speed of
rotation N, speed of advance V, diameter D, air density , viscosity
and speed of sound C. Obtain an expression for the thrust by means
of dimensional analysis.
• Step 1: List all the variables in our problem.
T Dependent/main variable
N

V Independent
variables

N [Link] variables = 7
• Step 2: Breakdown the variables into the primary dimensions
−2
T→ . →
−1
N→
D→
−1
V→ →

Mass −3
→ →
Volume
−1 −2
F/ A −1 −1
→ → → −1
→
/ V/ y
−1
c→
• Step 3: Choose repeating variables

−2
T→
−1
N→ Kinematics
−1
V→
−1
c→ Geometry
D→
−3
Fluid properties
→
−1 −1
→
Choose : , ,
• Step 4: Calculate the number of dimensionless groups

N [Link] dimensionless groups = N [Link] variables – N [Link] repeating

variables
=7-3
=3

N [Link] dimensionless groups =4

• Step 5: Form groups
= 1 2 3

1 1 1
1
=
2 2 2
2
=
3 3 3
3
=
4 4 4
4
=
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
1 1 1
1
=

0 0 0
1
→ →

0 0 0 −3 1 −1 1 1 −2
=( ) ( )

M: 0= 1 +1

1
=−1
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
0 0 0 −3 −1 −1 1 1 −2
=( ) ( )
T: 0=− 1 −2

1
=−2

0 0 0 −3 −1
=( ) ( −1)−2 1 −2

L: 0=3−2+ 1 +1

1
=−2
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
−1 −2 −2
1
=

1
= 2 2
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
2 2 2
2
=

0 0 0
1
→ →

0 0 0 −3 1 −1 1 1 −1
=( ) ( )

M: 0= 1 +0+0+0

1
=0
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
0 0 0 −1 2 2 −1
=( )
T: 0=− 1 −2

2
=−1

0 0 0
=( −1)−1 2 −1

L: 0=−1+ 2

2
=1
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
0 −1 1
2
=

2
=
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
3 3 3
3
=

0 0 0
3
→ →

0 0 0 −3 2 −1 2 2 −1 −1
=( ) ( )

M: 0= 2 +1

2
=−1
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
0 0 0 −3 −1 −1 2 2 −1 −1
=( ) ( )
T: 0=− 2 −1

2
=−1

0 0 0 −3 −1
=( ) ( −1)−1 2 −1 −1

L: 0=3−1+ 2 −1

2
=−1
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
−1 −1 −1
3
=

3
=

′ 1
3
= = =
3
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
4 4 4
4
=

0 0 0
4
→ →

0 0 0 −3 4 −1 4 4 −1
=( ) ( )

M: 0= 1

1
=0
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
0 0 0 −1 4 4 −1
=( )
T: 0=− 4 −1

1
=−1

0 0 0
=( −1)−1 4 −1

L: 0=−1+ 4 +1

1
=0
• Step 6: Find variables a,b,c
0 −1 0
4
=

4
=

′ 1
4
= = = h .
4
• Dimensionless groups:

1
= 2 2

2
=

3
=

4
=
• Dimensionless groups:

2 2
= ( , , )