FLUID MECHANICS Page 1 of 12

DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF FLOW

Hello Science majors! Welcome to the world of FLUID MECHANICS.

I. INTRODUCTION:
This course introduces students to fluid This course will provide the student with a basic understanding
of fluid properties, fluid statics, dynamics and fluid flow. Then the students apply these concepts to application
in problem solving and in real life situation.
The module will give you an overview to understand the behavior of fluid under various forces, at different
atmospheric conditions and to select the proper fluid for various applications.

II. OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Define dimensional analysis of flow system.
2. Convert the following units to its dimensional units.
3. Determine the group of pi using Buckingham Pi Theorem step by step process.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Before you proceed to the main lesson, test yourself in this activity.

III. PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES:

In this module, we will have a closer look at Fluid Mechanics. We will discuss MOMENTUM
ANALYSIS OF FLOW, First let us identify the unknown concepts given its formula.

F= MA
= F/L P= mv

a = v/t² V = d/t

Based on the preliminary activities, what did you notice about it?
___________________________________________________
CONGRATULATIONS!
You may now proceed to the lesson.

GREAT!!!
You may now proceed to the main lesson.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

IV. LESSON PROPER

DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
- A typical fluid mechanics problem in which experimentation is required consider the steady flow of
incompressible Newtonian Fluid through a long smooth walled, horizontal, circular pipe.
- An important characteristic of this system, which would be interest to an engineer designing a
pipeline, is the pressure drop per unit length that develops along the pipe as a result of friction.

DIMENSION AND UNITS

DIMENSION – is a measure of physical quantity (without numerical values) while a unit is a way to assign a
number to that dimension
Example: length is a dimension that is measured in units such as microns (µm), feet(ft), centimeters(cm),
meters (m), kilometers (km), etc.
There are seven primary dimensions (also called as fundamental or basic dimensions) – mass, length, time,
temperature, electric current, amount of light and amount of matter.
All nonpromy dimensions can be formed by some combination of the seven primary dimensions.
For example, force has the same dimensions as mass times the acceleration by Newton’s second law). Thus,
in terms of primary dimensions,

SURFACE TENSION
- has dimension of force per unit length. the dimension of surface tension in terms of primary
dimension is :
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

QUANTITY UNITS DIMENSIONS

VELOCITY (v) m/s L/T

PRESSURE (P) N/m² M/LT²

FORCE (F) N ML/T²

FLOW (Q) m³/s L³/T

DYNAMIC VISCOSITY ( µ) Ns/m² M/LT

KINEMATIC VISCOSITY m²/s L/T

DIAMETER M L

DENSITY Kg/m³ M/L³

DIMENSIONAL HOMOGENEITY
Law of dimensional homogeneity – every additive term in an equation must have the same
dimension.
Examples:
1. The change in total energy of a simple
compressible closed system from one
state and / or time (1) to another (2),
as shown in the figure.
2. The change in total energy of the
system (E) is given
by E = U + KE + PE
3. Where E has three components: internal energy (U), Kinetic energy (KE) and potential energy
(PE)
- These components can be written in terms of system to mass (m), measurable quantities and
thermodynamic properties at each of the two states, such as speed (V), elevation (z), and specific
internal
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
- These components can be written in terms of the system mass (m); measurable quantities and
thermodynamic properties at each of the two states, such as speed (V), elevation (z) and specific
nternal energy (u), and the known gravitational acceleration constant (g).

It is a straightforward to verify that the left side of the change in Energy equation and all three additive
terms on the right side have the same dimensions – energy.

- In addition to dimensional homogeneity, calculations are valid only when the units are also
homogenous in each additive term.
- For example, units of energy in the above terms may be J or Nm or kgm²/s², all of which are
equivalent.
- It is wise to write out all units when performing mathematical calculations in order to avoid such
errors.

BUCKINGHUM PI THEOREM
If there are n variables in a problem and these variables contain m primary
dimensions (M,L,T). The equation relating all the variables will have (n-m)
dimensionless groups.

These theorem is used to determine the number of dimensional groups require to describe a
phenomena. According to this theorem “ the number of dimensionless groups to define a problem
equals the total number of variables, n (like density, viscosity, etc.) minus the fundamental
dimensions, p like length, time,etc..
Examples:
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
The drag 𝐹𝐷 of a sphere in a fluid flowing past the sphere is function of the viscosity µ, the mass
density ρ, the velocity flow V, and the diameter of the sphere D. Use the step by step method to find the pi
groups.
𝐹𝐷 = 𝑓(𝑉, 𝜌, µ, 𝐷)
GOAL:: Find pi groups
IDEAS: Apply Buckingham Theory
No. of Variables = 5 No. of Primary Dimensions = 3
Buckingham Theorem = No. of Variable – No. of Primary Dimensions
Solutions 5-3 =2
STEP BY STEP TABLE:
Variables Units Dimensional Eliminating L Eliminating M Eliminating T
Unit
F Ma ML/T² 𝐹 𝑀 𝐹 1 𝐹
𝐿 𝑇² 𝜌𝐷4 𝑇 2 𝜌𝐷4 𝑉²
µ ma/A M/LT 𝑀 µ 1 µ
µ𝐷 𝜌𝐷𝑉
𝑇 𝜌𝐷³ 𝑇
V d/t L/T 𝑉 1 𝑉 1 Use this variable
𝐷 𝑇 𝐷 𝑇 to eliminate T
𝜌 m/v M/L³ 3
𝜌𝐷 𝑀 Use this variable ______________
to eliminate M
D meter L Use this ___________ ______________
variable to
eliminate L
NOTE:
To eliminate primary variables you have to multiply or divide the following dimensional units depends on the
variable.
Therefore the 2 pi groups in the problem are:
𝐹 µ
and
𝜌𝐷 4 𝑉² 𝜌𝐷𝑉

We had just finished the discussion on the DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF FLOW.

Let’s move on to the next higher level of activity/ies or exercise/s that demonstrate your
potential skills/knowledge of what you have learned.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

V. ANALYSIS, APPLICATION AND EXPLORATION

ACTIVITY 1
Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: __________________
I. Define the following terms:
1. Dimensional Analysis
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2. Units
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
II. Answer the following questions.
1. Write the 3 primary variables in dimensional analysis.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is Burkinghum Theorem?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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ACTIVITY 2
Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: __________________
I. DIRECTION: Write the dimensional units of the following variables. Box your final answer.
1. Speed = D/t

2. Acceleration = v/t²

3. Momentum = P=mv

4.Kinetic Energy = ½ mv²

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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

ACTIVITY 3
Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: __________________
DIRECTION: Determine the group of pi using Step by step process of Buckingham Theorem. Write
your complete solutions.
1.𝒑 = 𝒇 (𝑫, 𝒍, 𝑽, µ)

2. The relationship of the effect on pressure drop (P) of the variables d,L,p,µ and v.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

VI. GENERALIZATION

Reflection
After learning a lot of concept about DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF FLOW, it is time for
you to reflect about the things you found out by completing the chart below.
Things I learned Things I found interesting Things I still want to know

CONGRATULATIONS!
You have come to an end of Module 7.
OOPS! Don’t forget that you have still an assignment to do.
Here it is….
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

VII. ASSIGNMENT

Name: _____________________________ Year & Section: ______________

DIRECTION: Determine the number of pi using Step by step process of Buckingham Theorem.
Write your complete solutions.
1. The efficiency (ŋ) of a fan depends on density ρ, dynamics viscosity (µ) of the fluid, angular velocity (ω)
diameter (D) of the roller and the discharged. Express (ŋ) in term of dimensionless parameter.

2. The excess pressure (P) inside a bubble is known to be dependent on bubble radius (R) and surface
tension (σ). Find the number of pi and determin its term.

(This assignment will be submitted on ________________.)

After your long journey of reading and accomplishing the module, let us now
challenge your mind by answering the evaluation part of this module.
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DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

VIII. EVALUATION

Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: __________________

Choose the letter of the correct answer and write the letter of your choice on the space provided.
________1. It is a measure of physical quantity (without numerical values) while a unit is a way to assign a
number to that dimension
a. Dimension b. Flow c. Analysis d. None of the above
________2. The following units given below is an example of primary variables except:
: a. L b. M c. T d. N
________3. These theorem is used to determine the number of dimensional groups require to describe a
phenomena. According to this theorem “ the number of dimensionless groups to define a problem equals
the total number of variables, n (like density, viscosity, etc.) minus the fundamental dimensions, p like
length, time,etc..
a. Buckingham Theorem b. Backingham Theorem
c. Burkingham Theorem d.Beckingham Theorem
________4. Which of the following dimension unit is indicating for surface tension?
a. M/T² b. MT² c. M²T d. T/M
________5. How many pi terms are there in 𝜔 = 𝑓(𝐷, 𝑚, 𝑦)?
a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4
________6. A typical fluid mechanics problem in which experimentation is required consider the steady
flow of incompressible Newtonian Fluid through a long smooth walled, horizontal, circular pipe.
a. Dimensional Analysis b. Momentum Analysis
c. Flow Analysis d. None of the above
________7. Which of the following dimension unit is indicated for diameter?
a. D b. M c. L d. LMT
________8. The following primary dimension listed below are classified as fundamental or basic dimension
except:
a. length b. electric current c. Time d. force
________9. M/LT² is dimension unit for:
a. Pressure b. density c. Force d. Velocity
________10. M/L³ is dimension unit for:
a. Pressure b. density c. Force d. Velocity

CONGRATULATIONS on reaching the end of this module!

You may now proceed to the next module.
Don’t forget to submit all the exercises, activities and portfolio on ___________________.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Well Done!!!
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