c




   O 
6






   




 



 




 







 
 





 
  







 
 

(Yunus A. Cengel, 2008)

In real life engineering problem, when equations for a system are unavailable and
experimentation is the only method of obtaining reliable results, tests are performed on a
geometrically scaled model, rather than a full-scale prototype. This saves both time and money.
For modeling up a system, dimensional analysis is a powerful tool with primary purpose (Yunus
A. Cengel, 2008) of:

’m Œenerating non-dimensional parameters that help in the design of experiments

(physical and/or numerical) and in the reporting of experimental results.
’m ºbtaining scaling laws so that prototype performance can be predicted from model
performance.
’m Ñredict (sometimes) the trends in the relationships between parameters.

In order to scale down a prototype to a similar model, all three similarities i.e. geometric
similarity, kinematic similarity, dynamic similarity must be achieved in addition to the similarity
of non-dimensional parameters (ʋ). These parameters are of two types (Yunus A. Cengel, 2008):

’m èependent (ʋ1)
’m Independent (ʋ2, ʋ3,͙, ʋk)

Functional relationship between the two types is: ʋ1 = r (ʋ2, ʋ3,͙, ʋk)

Buckingham ʹ ʋ theorem provides the relation for the number of independent non-dimensional
parameters. The theorem states:

͞ physical quantities with
base dimensions can generally be arranged to provide only ( 
)
independent dimensionless parameters also referred to as ʋs͟

(Kumar, 2004)

In mathematical terms, if there are physical variables q1, q2,͙, qn, the functional relationship
may become:

r (q1,q2,͙, qn) = 0
If there are r fundamental dimensions, there will be (n-r) independent dimensionless groups
(ʋ1, ʋ2,͙, ʋn-r), and the functional relationship may be written as:

r (ʋ1, ʋ2,͙, ʋn-r) = 0

The Œroup method or the Rayleigh͛s Indicial Method may be used to group the recognized set
of variables into a functional form of independent non-dimensional parameters.

The theorem provides a method of making dimensionless groups and dimensionless numbers,
which are of considerable value in developing relationships in chemical engineering (J M
Coulson, 2009).

›
 

J M Coulson, J. F. (2009). J 

 Noida: Elsevier.

Kumar, K. .. (2004). 



 New èelhi: Eurasia Ñublishing House.

Yunus A. Cengel, J. M. (2008). 




  

 
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# $ New èehli:
Tata McŒraw-Hill Ñublishing Company Limited.
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Consider a fluid of density U and viscosity
mflowing in a pipe of diameter è with a velocity u.
The relationship between these variable affecting the flow of fluid may be written as:

r  
 

Writing their dimensions:

 
 
 
 

The relation includes three variables (M, L and T), therefore according to Buckingham ʹ ʋ
theorem:

No. of independent èimensionless groups = 4 - 3 = 1

the physical variables     will become:

The dimensional matrix, with rows corresponding to the dimensions (M, L and T) columns to

   
    
   

For nullity, assuming the (3 x 4) matrix multiplied to the dimensional matrix :

 
     
      
 
    


Multiplying the matrix, we get linear equations:

 !   "#   $

%! & '   "   $$

!%'   "   $$$

Solving these equations simultaneously:

(
)*$+     !

(
)*$$$+     !'  ,  '

(
)*$$+    %
 & 


      - &

       & ,  &

'sing iteration, let a = 1:

 
 
  
 
 

r   . # / # 0 # 1 

r   2 # 32 # 2 # 2 

 
r  


This is equals to Reynolds͛s Numbers which is a ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces and
explains the characteristics of the fluid flow.