Dimensional Analysis

and Modeling
Dr. Meera Balachandran
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

This presentation is for the use of students of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. The presentation or recorded
video of class should not be shared on social media or other platforms on the internet.
 Dimensions and Units
• Dimension: a measure of a physical quantity, e.g., length, time, mass

• Unit: Assignment of a number to a dimension, e.g., (m), (sec), (kg)

• 7 Primary Dimensions with symbols & units:

• Mass m kg
• Length L m
• Time t sec
• Temperature T K
• Electric Current I A
• Amount of Light C cd
• Amount of matter N mol 2
 Dimensions and Units

• All non-primary dimensions can be formed by a

combination of the seven primary dimensions

• Examples

• {Velocity} = { Length/Time } = { L/t }

• {Force} = { Mass Length/Time2 } = { mL/t2 }

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 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/time2 x 1/length2} = { m/(t2L) }

• {1/2ρV2} = {mass/length3 x (length/time)2} = { m/(t2L) }

• {ρgz} = {mass/length3 x length/time2 x length} ={ m/(t2L) }

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 Nondimensionalization of Equations
• Since every additive term in an equation has the same
dimensions, if we divide each term in the equation by a
collection of variables and constants whose product has
those same dimensions, the equation will become non-
dimensional.
• Each term in a nondimensional equation is dimensionless.
• In the process of nondimensionalizing an equation,
nondimensional parameters often appear, e.g., Reynolds
number and Froude number.

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Nondimensionalization of Equations

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Consider the equation of motion describing the elevation z of
an object falling by gravity through a vacuum. The initial
location is z0 and its initial velocity is w0 in the z-direction.

Equation of motion: →

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Nondimensionalization of Equations

• Dimensional variables: Dimensional quantities

that vary in the problem.
Here, two dimensional variables: z & t

• Dimensional constants: Dimensional quantities that are

constants in the problem. e.g., Gravitational constant g.
Here, z0 and w0 as well.

• Parameters: The set of dimensional variables and

dimensional constants.
Here: z, t, g, z0 w0

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 • Equation of motion: →

The equation is solved by

integrating twice and applying
the initial conditions:

→ Expression for elevation z at any time t

• To nondimensionalize the
dimensional variables z & t:

• Select scaling parameters, based on

the primary dimensions contained in the
original equation.
• In fluid flow problems, there are
typically at least 3 scaling parameters,
e.g., L, V & Po- P∞ since there are at least
3 primary dimensions in the general
problem (mass, length & time).
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 Nondimensionalization of Equations
Here, only two primary dimensions: length & time.
So select only 2 scaling parameters from g, z0 & w0.
Let’s choose z0 & w0 to nondimensionalize the dimensional
variables z & t.
List the primary dimensions of all dimensional variables &
dimensional constants:

Use the two scaling parameters to nondimensionalize z & t

(by inspection) into nondimensional variables z* & t*

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Nondimensionalization of Equations
Substituting for z & t in the equation of motion

This is the desired nondimensional equation.

The group of dimensional constants is the square of
a nondimensional parameter, the Froude number

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Nondimensionalization of Equations

Advantages of nondimensionalization
• Increases our insight about the relationships between
key parameters…
• Decreases the number of parameters in the problem…
(Here 3 to 1)

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 Dimensionless numbers
Dimensionless Symbol Group of Field of application
numbers Variables
1 Reynolds Re VL Laminar viscous flow in confined
number  passages (where viscous effects
(IF/VF) are significant)
2 Froude number Fr V Free surface flows (where
(IF/GF) Lg gravity effects are important)
3 Euler number Eu V Conduit flow (where pressure
(IF/PF) p/ variations are significant)
4 Weber number We V Small surfaces waves, capillary
(IF/STF)  / L and sheet flow (where surface
tension is important)
5 Mach number M V High speed flow (where
(IF/EF) K / compressibility effects are
significant)
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 Dimensional Analysis
• Nondimensionalization of an equation is useful only when the
equation is known!
• In many real-world flows, the equations are either unknown
or too difficult to solve.
• Experimentation is the only method of obtaining reliable information.
• In most experiments, tests are performed on a geometrically-scaled
model, rather than on the full-scale prototype, to save time & money.
• Experimental conditions and results must be properly scaled so that
results are meaningful for the full-scale prototype.
• For designing and conducting such experiments, a powerful
technique called Dimensional Analysis is used.

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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.
• To obtain scaling laws so that prototype performance
can be predicted from model performance.
• To predict trends in the relationship between
parameters.
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 Similarity – The underlying concept of DA
❖ Three necessary conditions for complete similarity between a
model & a prototype:
1. Geometric Similarity
2. Kinematic Similarity
3. Dynamic Similarity -
These scale factors can be less than, equal to, or greater than one.
• Complete Similarity is achieved only if all 3 conditions are met.

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 Similarity – The underlying concept of DA
Geometric Similarity - the model must be the same shape as
the prototype. Each dimension must be scaled by the same
scale factor.

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 Similarity – The underlying concept of DA
Kinematic Similarity - velocity at any point in the model flow must be
proportional (by a constant scale factor) to the velocity at the corresponding
point in the prototype flow and must point in the same relative direction.

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In a general flow field, complete similarity between a
model and prototype is achieved only when there is
geometric, kinematic, and dynamic similarity.

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 Similarity – The underlying concept of DA
Dynamic Similarity - all forces in the model flow are scaled by a
constant factor to corresponding forces in the prototype flow.

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 Similarity – The underlying concept of DA

26 November 2020 22
Let π denote a nondimensional parameter, e.g., Froude or
Reynolds number.
In a DA problem, there is one dependent π → π1
π1 is a function of independent π’s.
where k = total number of π’s.
Consider an experiment: A scale model is tested to simulate a
prototype flow.

For complete similarity between model & prototype, each

independent π of model must be identical to the
corresponding independent π of prototype: π2,m = π2,p ;
π3,m = π3,p ; ….. ; πk,m = πk,p
Under these conditions, the dependent π of the model (π1,m)
will also be equal to the dependent π of the prototype
(π1,p).

26 November 2020 23
Consider the design of a new sports car. We test a small scaled model of the
car, rather than a full-scale prototype, in a wind tunnel. For the
aerodynamic drag on the car, there are only two π’s.

π 1 → drag coefficient ; π2 → Reynolds number

Here we have only one independent π → π2

If the independent π’s match, ie., the Reynolds numbers match, ie., π2,m = π2,p
then the independent π’s also match.

ie., π1,m = π1,p

 FD   FD 
Ie.,   =  
 V 2 2
L m  V 2 2
L p
ie., we can measure the aerodynamic
drag on the model car & use it to predict
the aerodynamic drag on the prototype
car. 24
 Dimensional Analysis and Similarity

How to generate the nondimensional parameters i.e., the π’s ?

Various methods:

1) Buckingham’s Pi theorem

2) Rayleigh’s method

3) Bridgman’s method

4) Matrix-Tensor method

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 The Method Of Repeating Variables
Ball Falling in a Vacuum
If there are n variables (dependent and
independent) in a dimensionally
homogeneous equation and if these
variables contain m fundamental
dimensions (such as M,L,T,), the
variables are arranged into (n - m)
 = f (dimensionless
1  ,  ,....., )
2 n terms.
These dimensionless terms are called
Π’s.
The Method Of Repeating Variables And The Buckingham Pi
Theorem

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Guidelines for choosing repeating parameters in step 4
of the method of repeating variables

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Guidelines for manipulation of the π’s resulting from the
method of repeating variables

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 Example • Step 1: List relevant parameters.
Z = f (t,w0,z0,g)  n=5

Ball Falling in a Vacuum

• 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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 Example, continued
• Step 5: Combine repeating parameters into products with each of the
remaining parameters, one at a time, to create the ’s.
•  1 = z w 0a 1 z 0b 1
• 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 35
 Example, continued
• Step 5: continued
• Repeat process for 2 by combining repeating parameters with t
•  2 = t w 0a 2 z 0b 2

• Time equation:

• Length equation:

• This results in
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 Example, continued
• Step 5: continued
• Repeat process for 3 by combining repeating parameters with g
•  3 = g w 0 a 3 z 0b 3

Time equation:

Length equation:

This results in

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 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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