CONTENTS

Dimensional Analysis and Hydraulic Similarities

1. Dimensional analysis
2. Buckingham PI Theorem
3. Hydraulic Similarities
What is dimensional analysis
Any physical law must be independent of units i.e. the
units at right hand side of an equation should be
equal to the units at its left hand side.

Based on the above principal dimensional analysis is
done.

Dimensional analysis finds relations among physical
quantities using their dimensions.
Dimensional analysis ..
helps to find which variables to study.
helps to find the most effective parameter of the
system.
can be used for any physical system.
helps to design physical models.
reduces the effort of experimental analysis by
studying the most important groups of variables.

Units and Dimensions
( )
C L L L C L
LT ML
T ML
LT
LT
C z
g
P
g
V
= + + = + + = + +

2 3
2 1
2
2
1 2
2
C must have dimension L
Dimensional homogeneity both sides of an equation must have the same dimensions
Major Dimensions : Length (L), Time (T), Mass (M)
Buckingham H Theorem
Buckingham H Theorem
in a physical problem which involves n quantities (variables) and which contains m fundamental
dimensions, the quantities can be arranged into (n-m) H independent dimensionless groups
Dimensional Grouping do not change with size or scale of the hydraulic system
Concept of hydraulic models use of scale-down versions to predict the performance of the real
thing
if Z
1
, Z
2
, , Z
n
are the quantities involved that are essential to the solution then some functional
relationship exists such that f'(Z
1
, Z
2
, , Z
n
)=0
if the quantities Z
1
, Z
2
, ,Z
n
are combined to form (n-m) dimensionless groups that are
represented by H
1
, H
2
, , H
n-m
then an equation exist such that f''(H
1
, H
2
, , H
n-m
)=0
Buckingham pi-Method


1. List all the k variables involved in the problem
Typically variables involved in hydraulics are: geometry effects (pipe radius, length, volume, area), fluid
properties (density and viscosity), external force effects (gravity and pressure).
Repeating variable you choose should be independent i.e. having different set of dimensions ( e.g. dont
use pipe radius and area as they both have dimension from L)


2. Decompose variables in terms of the basic dimension
These are typically Mass (M); Length(L); Time (T).




Example: Find relationship of discharge (Q) from a pump, speed of the impeller (N), Pressure (P),
density () and impeller diameter (D).
Variables are : Q, N, D, P and
Parameters Units Dimension
Q m
3
/s L
3
T
-1

N rev/s T
-1

D m L
P N/m
2
ML
-1
T
-2

kg/m
3
ML
-3

Buckingham pi-Method contd..
3. Determine number of terms


4. Write the equation in terms of the variables


5. Calculate number of dimensionless groups to be formed
Select variables which contains all fundamental dimensions.




6. Re-write the equation in terms of dimensionless -groups.







Number of terms are 5. n=5 (Q, N, D, P, )
f'(Q, N, D, P, ) = 0
Since there are 3 fundamental dimensions (M, L and T) (m=3), the number of dimensionless groups
are
N-m = 5-3=2.
So we should create two dimensionless groups.
f''(H
1
, H
2
)=0
Buckingham pi-Method contd..
7. Select repeating variables appearing in all H equations



8. Combine the repeating and non-repeating variables to form an equation for each of the Hs,
repeating variables raised to an unknown power a, b, c, etc

9. substitute the equivalent fundamental dimension in the H equation







This should contain collectively M, L and T and should not include the variable (e.g. Q because this is
under investigation)
- select N, D and as repeating variables
P D N Q D N
c b a c b a
2 2 2 1 1 1
2 1
= [ = [


equating powers of M: 0=c
1
; L: 0=b
1
-3c
1
+3; T: 0=-a
1
-1
Solving the above equations:
c
1
=0, b
1
=-3, a
1
= -1 H
1
= N
-1
D
-3

0
Q = Q/(ND
3
)
( ) ( ) ( )
1 3 3 1 0 0 0
1
1
1
1
= = [ T L ML L T T L M
c
b
a


equating powers of M: 0=c
2
+1; L: 0=b
2
-3c
2
-1; T: 0=-a
2
-2
solving the equations: c
2
=-1, b
2
=-2, a
2
= -2 H
2
= N
-2
D
-2

-1
P = P/(N
2
D
2
)
if P = gH, then H
2
= gH/(N
2
D
2
)
( ) ( ) ( )
2 1 3 1 0 0 0
2
2
2
2
= = [ T ML ML L T T L M
c
b
a
Buckingham pi-Method contd..
10. Write the final dimensional equation
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
.
|

\
|
2 2 3 2 2 3
"
,
D N
gH
f
ND
Q
or
D N
gH
ND
Q
f
HYDRAULIC SIMILARITY
- determination of the relationship between model and prototype performances
- the model will not reflect totally the performance of the prototype, scale effect
errors
Hydraulic Similarities
Geometrical (or shape) similarity
any model length, L
M
, is related to the equivalent in the prototype, L
P
, via the scale
factor 1:X
The model should be an exact scale copy of the prototype. It should include the surface
roughness and the object dimensions.
Kinematic (or motion) similarity
at similar points at similar times, the model must reproduce to scale the velocity and
direction of flow experienced within the prototype.

Dynamic (or forces) similarity
at similar points, the model must reproduce to scale all of the forces experienced
within the prototype
Forces on hydraulic model