A Simple Dimensional Method for Hydraulic Problems
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VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of the Hydraulics Division
Volume 89, Issue 5
Abstract
Every physical magnitude in a problem has a unique dynamic number. The physical magnitude is expressed dimensionally in terms of the measure-system components. This expression is divided by the physical magnitude itself. The quotient is the dynamic number. In hydraulic problems, the measure-system components are usually ρ (density), L (length), V (velocity), M (mass), L, T (time) dimensions are transformed into ρ, L, V dimensions through the identitites M ≡ ρL3 and T ≡ L/V. Thus the dynamic number for viscosity is formed as follows: μ (viscosity) has the dimensions M/LT, which become ρ L V. Dividing by μ gives the dynamic number Nμ = ρ L V/μ = R. Application of this simple system, to all of the physical magnitudes involved, yields a set of dynamic number N0, N1, N2, N3....... It is shown that any useful physical equation may be reduced to the form N0 = f (N1, N2, N3.......), the nature of the function f being revealed only by physical analysis of the problem. When the appropriate dynamic numbers are substituted in this expression, the result is identical with that obtained by the more lengthy conventional methods of dimensional analysis such as the use of the π-theorem.
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Published In
Journal of the Hydraulics Division
Volume 89 • Issue 5 • September 1963
Pages: 1 - 27
Copyright
© 1963 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published in print: Sep 1963
Published online: Feb 3, 2021
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