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Chapter 10: Dimensional Analysis

By: Dr. Rajib Pokhrel

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Course Contents

10. Dimensional Analysis

- Introduction to dimensional analysis
(physical, quantity and their dimensions)
- Methods of dimensional analysis: Rayleigh’s
method and Buckingham’s TT-theorem
- Applications of dimensional analysis

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Dimensional Analysis
Introduction:
- Dimensional analysis is a mathematical technique which makes use of the
study of dimensions.
- Each physical phenomenon can be expressed by an equation, composed of
variable (physical quantities) which may be dimensional and non-
dimensional quantities.

Uses of dimensional analysis are

1. Testing the dimensional homogeneity of any equation of fluid motion
2. Deriving equations expressed in terms of non-dimensional parameters to
show the relative significance of each parameter
3. Planning model tests and presenting experimental results in a systematic
manner in terms of non-dimensional parameters

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Dimensions
• The various physical quantities used by engineers and scientists are both
independent and dependent types which are also known as fundamental
or primary quantities.
• The primary quantities are mass, length, time and temperature,
designated by the letters M, L, T and θ respectively. Where the temperature
is specially useful in compressible flow.
• Quantities such as area, volume, velocity, acceleration, force, energy,
power, etc. are termed as derived quantities or secondary quantities.

Force  Mass  Acceleration 

L
Since, [Acceleration]   2  Unit : ms  2
T 

Force   ML2   [MLT -2 ]

T 

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Rayleigh’s method
The method of dimensional analysis is proposed by Lord Rayleigh in 1899, for
determining the effect of temperature on the viscosity of a gas. Here, the
relationship of some variables is expressed in the form of an exponential
equation.
If dependent variable X is some function of independent variables X1 , X 2 , X 3 , ...X n ;
functional equation can be written in the following general form
X  f(X1 , X 2 , X 3 , ...X n ) - - - - - - - (1)
It can be expressed as

X  C X1a X b2 X 3c ...X nn       (2)

Where,
C = dimensional less constant which can be obtained from physical characteristics of
the problem or from experimental measurements.

The exponents a, b, c, …,n are then evaluated on the basis that the equation is
dimensionally homogeneous. The dimensionless parameters are then formed by
grouping together the variables with like powers.
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Buckingham’s π-theorem
- The Buckigham’s π-theorem states that if there are n dimensional variables
involved in a phenomenon, which can be completely described by m
fundamental quantities or dimensions such as (mass, length, time, etc.), and
are dimensionally homogenous equation, then the relationship among the n
quantities can always be expressed in terms of exactly (n-m) dimensionless and
independent π-terms.

- Mathematically,
Q1 = f(Q2, Q3, Q4 -----Qn) ----------(1)
Where, Q1 is dependent variable and Q2, Q3, Q4 -----Qn are independent variables.
The equation (1) can also be written as
f1 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 -----Qn ) = C ----------(2)
Where, C is the dimensionless constant.

Thus, if x = f(y) = y2+C; where x-y2 = f1(x, y) = C

Hence, in accordance to the π-theorem, a non-dimensional equation can thus be

obtained in the following form
f2(π1, π2, π3, …… πn-m) = C1 ------(3)
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Wherein each dimensionless  - term is formed by combining m variables out of

the total n variables with one of the remaining (n - m) variables.

The different  - terms may be established as

 1  Q1a Q2b Q3c ...........Qmm Qm1
1 1 1 1

 2  Q1a Q2b Q3c ...........Qmm Qm  2

2 2 2 2

.........................................................
 n -m  Q1a Q2b Q3c ...........Qmm Qn
n m n m n m n m
      ( 4)

In the above equation each individual equation is dimensionless and the exponents
a, b, c, d, ....m etc. are determined by considering dimensional homogenity for each
equation so that each  - term is dimensionless.

Final general equation for the phenomenon may then be obained by expressing any one of
the   terms as a function of the others as
 1  f1 ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 , ........ n  m )
 2  f 2 ( 1 ,  3 ,  4 , ........ n  m ) 11/11

Course Contents
Laboratories:
1. Newton’s law of viscosity
2. Hydrostatic force on a submerged body
3. Stability of a floating body
4. Verification of Bernoulli’s theorem
5. Impact of flow jet
6. Flow through edged orifice
7. Flow over broad-crested weir

Text Books:
1. Modi, P. N. and Seith, S. M. Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics
2. Rajput, R. K. Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Mechanics

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