Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT)
College of Engineering & Technology Mechatronics Department
Course title: Hydraulics Course code: ME 362
Sheet 7: Dimensional Analysis and Similitude
1. Express the group of variables L, µ, ρ, V as a dimensionless ratio.
2. Establish Newton's law of viscosity using dimensional analysis, realizing that shear stress τ is a function
of the fluid viscosity µ and the angular deformation du/dy. Hint: Consider the unknown function as
f (τ, µ, du/dy).
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3. The period of oscillation τ, measured in seconds, of a buoy depends upon its cross-sectional area A, and
its mass m, and the specific weight γ of the water. Determine the relation between τ and these parameters.
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4. Laminar flow through a pipe produces a discharge Q that is a function of the pipes diameter D, the change
in pressure ∆p per unit length, ∆p/∆x, and the fluid viscosity, µ. Determine the relation between Q and
these parameters.
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5. The speed of sound V in air is thought to depend on the viscosity µ, the density ρ, and the pressure p.
Determine how V is related to these parameters.
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6. The drag force F D on the square plate held normal to the wind depends upon the area A of the plate and
the air velocity V , density ρ, and viscosity µ. Determine the relation between F D and these parameters.
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7. The power P of a blower depends upon the impeller diameter D, its angular velocity ω, the discharge Q,
and the fluid density ρ and viscosity µ. Determine the relation between P and these parameters.
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8. The discharge Q of a pump is a function of the impeller diameter D, its angular velocity ω, the power output
Ẇ , and the density ρ and viscosity µ of the fluid. Determine the relation between Q and these parameters.
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9. As the ball falls through a liquid, its velocity V is a function of the diameter D of the ball, its density ρb , and
the density ρ and viscosity µ of the liquid, and the acceleration due to gravity g. Determine the relation
between V and these parameters.
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10. The change in pressure ∆p in the pipe is a function of the density ρ and the viscosity µ of the fluid, the pipe
diameter D, and the velocity V of the flow. Establish the relation between ∆p and these parameters.
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11. The drag force F D on the automobile is a function of its velocity V , its projected area A into the wind, and
the density ρ and viscosity µ of the air. Determine the relation between F D and these parameters.
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12. Mist from an aerosol produces droplets having a diameter d, which is thought to depend upon the diameter
of the nozzle D, the surface tension σ of the droplets, the velocity V at which the droplets are ejected, and
the density ρ and viscosity µ of the air. Determine the relation between d and these parameters.
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13. studied using a model built to a scale of 1/15. If the river flows at 0.8 m/s, determine the corresponding
velocity of the water in the model at the same temperature.
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14. The drag on a submarine moving below the free surface is to be determined by a test on a 1 15 scale
model in a water tunnel. The velocity of the prototype in sea water (ρ = 1015kgm3 , ν = 1.4 × 10−6 m2 /s) is
2ms. The test is done in pure water at 20◦ C. Determine the speed of the water in the water tunnel for
dynamic similitude and the ratio of the drag force on the model to the drag force on the prototype.
15. A large venturi meter is calibrated by means of a 1/10 scale model using the prototype liquid. What is the
discharge ratio Qm Q p for dynamic similarity? If a pressure difference of 400 kPa is measured across ports
in the model for a given discharge (volume flow rate), what pressure difference will occur between similar
ports in the prototype for dynamically similar conditions?
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16. A 1/5 scale model of an experimental bathysphere that will operate at great depths is to be tested to
determine its drag characteristic by towing it behind a submarine. For true similitude, what should be the
towing speed relative to the speed of the prototype? Hint: A bathysphere is a manned spherical chamber
for deep-sea observation, lowered by cable from a ship.
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17. An engineer needs a value of lift force for an airplane that has a coefficient of lift (C L ) of 0.4. The π-group
is defined as
FL
CL = 2
ρV 2 S
where F L is the lift force, ρ is the density of ambient air, V is the speed of the air relative to the airplane,
and S is the area of the wings from a top view. Estimate the lift force in newtons for a speed of 80 ms, an
air density of 1.1 kgm3 , and a wing area (planform area) of 15 m2 .
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18. An airplane travels in air ( p= 100 kPa, T= 10◦ C, ρ = 1.26kg/m3 , µ = 1.76E − 5 Pa.s) at 150 m/s. If a 1/5
scale model of the plane is tested in a wind tunnel at 25◦ C (µ = 1.83E − 5 Pa.s), what must the density of
the air in the tunnel be so that both the Reynolds-number and the Mach-number criteria are satisfied? The
speed of sound varies with the square root of the absolute temperature. (Note: The dynamic viscosity is
independent of pressure.)
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19. A student is competing in a contest to design a radio-controlled blimp. The drag force acting on the blimp
ρV D
depends on the Reynolds number, Re = µ , where V is the speed of the blimp, D is the maximum diameter,
ρ is the density of air, and µ is the viscosity of air. This blimp has a coefficient of drag (C D ) of 0.3. This
π-group is defined as
FD
CD = 2
ρV 2 A p
where F D is the drag force,ρ is the density of ambient air, V is the speed of the air relative to the blimp, and
A p = πD2 /4 is the maximum section area of the blimp from a front view. Calculate the Reynolds number,
the drag force in newtons, and the power in watts required to move the blimp through the air. Blimp speed
is 800 mm/s, and the maximum diameter is 475 mm. Assume that ambient air is at 20◦ C.
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