Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Eric G. Paterson
Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering The Pennsylvania State University

Spring 2005

Note to Instructors
These slides were developed1, during the spring semester 2005, as a teaching aid for the undergraduate Fluid Mechanics course (ME33: Fluid Flow) in the Department of M h i l and Mechanical dN Nuclear l E Engineering i i at tP Penn St State t U University. i it Thi This course h had dt two sections, one taught by myself and one taught by Prof. John Cimbala. While we gave common homework and exams, we independently developed lecture notes. This was also the first semester that Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications was used at PSU. My section had 93 students and was held in a classroom with a computer, projector, and blackboard. While slides have been developed for each chapter of Fluid Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications, Applications I used a combination of blackboard and electronic presentation. In the student evaluations of my course, there were both positive and negative comments on the use of electronic presentation. Therefore, these slides y be integrated g into y your lectures with careful consideration of y your teaching g should only style and course objectives. Eric Paterson Penn State, University Park August 2005
slides were originally prepared using the LaTeX typesetting system (http://www.tug.org/) and the beamer class (http://latex-beamer (http://latex beamer.sourceforge.net/), sourceforge net/) but were translated to PowerPoint for wider dissemination by McGraw-Hill.
1 These

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Objectives
1. Understand dimensions, units, and dimensional homogeneity 2 Understand 2. U d t db benefits fit of f di dimensional i l analysis 3. Know how to use the method of repeating variables 4. Understand the concept of similarity and how to apply it to experimental modeling
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Dimensions and Units

Review
Dimension: Measure of a physical quantity, e.g., length, time, mass U i Units: A i Assignment of f a number b to a di dimension, i e.g., (m), (sec), (kg) 7 Primary Dimensions:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5 5. 6. 7. Mass Length Time Temperature Current Amount of Light Amount of matter
4

m L t T I C N

(kg) (m) (sec) (K) (A) (cd) (mol)

Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

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Dimensions and Units

Review, continued
All non-primary dimensions can be formed by a combination of the 7 primary dimensions E Examples l
{Velocity} = {Length/Time} = {L/t} {Force} = {Mass Length/Time} = {mL/t2}

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Dimensional Homogeneity
Law of dimensional homogeneity (DH): every additive term in an equation must have the same dimensions Example: Bernoulli equation

{p} = {force/area}={mass x length/time x 1/length2} = {m/(t2L)} {1/2V2} = {mass/length3 x (length/time)2} = {m/(t2L)} {gz} = {mass/length3 x length/time2 x length} ={m/(t2L)}

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Nondimensionalization of Equations
Given the law of DH, if we divide each term in the equation by a collection of variables and constants that have the same dimensions, the equation is rendered d d nondimensional di i l In the p process of nondimensionalizing g an equation, nondimensional parameters often appear appear, e e.g., g Reynolds number and Froude number
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Nondimensionalization of Equations
To nondimensionalize, for example, p the Bernoulli equation, the first step is to list primary dimensions of all dimensional variables and constants t t

{p} = {m/(t2L)} {g} = {L/t2}

{} = {m/L3} {z} = {L}

{V} = {L/t}

Next, we need N d to select l S li P Scaling Parameters. For F this hi example, select L, U0, 0
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Nondimensionalization of Equations
By y inspection, p nondimensionalize all variables with scaling parameters

p , V, V g, g z into dimensional Back-substitute p, equation

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Nondimensionalization of Equations
Divide by y 0U02 and set * = 1 ( (incompressible p flow)

Since g* g = 1/Fr2, where

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Nondimensionalization of Equations
Note that convention often dictates many of the nondimensional parameters, e.g., 1/20U02 is typically used to nondimensionalize pressure.

This results in a slightly different form of the nondimensional equation

BE CAREFUL! Always double check definitions.

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Nondimensionalization of Equations
Advantages of nondimensionalization
Increases insight about key parameters D Decreases number b of f parameters t i in th the problem
Easier communication Fewer experiments Fewer simulations

Extrapolation of results to untested conditions

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Nondimensionalization of an equation q is useful only when the equation is known! In many y real-world flows, the equations are either unknown or too difficult to solve.
Experimentation is the only method of obtaining reliable li bl i information f ti In most experiments, geometrically-scaled models are used (time and money) money). Experimental conditions and results must be properly scaled so that results are meaningful g for the full-scale prototype. Dimensional Analysis
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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Primary purposes of dimensional analysis
To generate nondimensional parameters that help in the design of experiments (physical and/or numerical) and in reporting of results T obtain To bt i scaling li l laws so th that t prototype t t performance can be predicted from model f performance. To predict trends in the relationship between parameters.

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Geometric Similarity y - the model must be the same shape as the prototype. Each dimension must be scaled by the same factor. Kinematic Similarity - velocity as any point in the model must be proportional Dynamic Similarity - all forces in the model flow scale by a constant factor to corresponding f i th t t fl forces in the prototype flow. Complete Similarity is achieved only if all 3 conditions diti are met. t This Thi i is not t always l possible, ibl e.g., river hydraulics models.
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Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

Complete p similarity y is ensured if all independent p groups are the same between model and prototype. What is ?
We let uppercase Greek letter denote a nondimensional di i l parameter, t e.g.,Reynolds R ld number b Re, Froude number Fr, Drag coefficient, CD, etc.
Consider automobile experiment Drag force is F = f(V, , , L) Through dimensional analysis analysis, we can reduce the problem to

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Method of Repeating Variables

Nondimensional parameters can be generated by several methods. We will use the Method of Repeating Variables Six steps
1. List the parameters in the problem and count their total number n. 2. List the primary dimensions of each of the n parameters 3. Set the reduction j as the number of primary dimensions. Calculate k, the expected number of 's, k = n - j. 4. Choose j repeating parameters. 5. Construct the k 's, and manipulate as necessary. 6. Write the final functional relationship and check algebra.

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Example
Ball Falling in a Vacuum Step 1: List relevant parameters. z=f(t,w f( 0,z0,g) ) n=5 Step 2: Primary dimensions of each parameter

Step 3: As a first guess, reduction j is set to 2 which is the number of primary dimensions (L and t). ) Number of expected 's is k=n-j=5-2=3 Step 4: Choose repeating variables w0 and z0
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Guidelines for choosing Repeating parameters

1. 2. Never pick the dependent variable. Otherwise, it may appear in all the h 's. ' Chosen repeating parameters must not by themselves be able to form a dimensionless g group. p Otherwise, , it would be impossible p to generate the rest of the 's. Chosen repeating parameters must represent all the primary dimensions. dimensions Never pick parameters that are already dimensionless. Never p pick two p parameters with the same dimensions or with dimensions that differ by only an exponent. Choose dimensional constants over dimensional variables so that only one contains the dimensional variable variable. Pick common parameters since they may appear in each of the 's. Pick simple p p parameters over complex p p parameters.
19 Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

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Example, continued
Step 5: Combine repeating parameters into products with i h each h of f the h remaining i i parameters, one at a time, i to create the s. a1z b b1 1 = zw0a 0
a1 and b1 are constant exponents which must be determined. Use the primary dimensions identified in Step 2 and solve for a1 and b1.

Time equation: Length equation:

This results in
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Example, continued
Step 5: continued
Repeat process for 2 by combining repeating parameters with t 2 = tw0a2z0b2

Time equation:

L th equation: ti Length

This results in

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Example, continued
Step 5: continued
Repeat process for 3 by combining repeating parameters with g 3 = gw0a3z0b3

Time equation:

L th equation: ti Length

This results in

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling

Example, continued
Step 6:
Double check that the 's are dimensionless. Write the functional relationship between 's

Or, in terms of nondimensional variables

Overall conclusion: Method of repeating variables properly predicts the functional relationship between dimensionless groups. However, the method cannot predict the exact mathematical form of the equation.
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Experimental Testing and Incomplete Similarity

One of the most useful applications of dimensional analysis l i i is i in d designing i i physical h i l and/or d/ numerical i l experiments, and in reporting the results. Setup of an experiment and correlation of data data.
Consider a p problem with 5 p parameters: one dependent and 4 independent. Full test matrix with 5 data points for each independent parameter would require 54=625 experiments!! If we can reduce to 2 's, the number of independent parameters is reduced from 4 to 1, which results in 51=5 experiments vs. 625!!
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Experimental Testing and Incomplete Similarity

Wanapum Dam on Columbia River

Physical Model at Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research

Flows with free surfaces present unique i challenges h ll i in achieving hi i complete dynamic similarity. For hydraulics y applications, pp , depth p is very small in comparison to horizontal dimensions. If geometric similarity is used the model depth would be so used, small that other issues would arise
Surface tension effects (Weber number) would become important important. Data collection becomes difficult.

Distorted models are therefore employed, which requires empirical corrections/correlations to extrapolate model data to full scale.
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Experimental Testing and Incomplete Similarity

DDG-51 Destroyer

For ship hydrodynamics, Fr similarity is maintained while Re is allowed to be different. Why? Look at complete similarity:

1/20th scale model

T match t h both b th Re R and d Fr F , viscosity i it i To in th the model test is a function of scale ratio! This is not feasible.

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Chapter 7: Dimensional Analysis and Modeling