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Dimensionless Numbers
A. Salih

Dept. of Aerospace Engineering

IIST, Thiruvananthapuram

The nondimensionalization of the governing equations of fluid flow is important for both
theoretical and computational reasons. Nondimensional scaling provides a method for
developing dimensionless groups that can provide physical insight into the importance of
various terms in the system of governing equations. Computationally, dimensionless forms
have the added benefit of providing numerical scaling of the system discrete equations, thus
providing a physically linked technique for improving the ill-conditioning of the system of
equations. Moreover, dimensionless forms also allow us to present the solution in a compact
way. Some of the important dimensionless numbers used in fluid mechanics and heat transfer
are given below.

Nomenclature

Archimedes Number:

Re2 gL3ρ(ρs − ρ)
Ar = =
Fr μ2
Atwood Number:
(ρ1 − ρ2)
A =
(ρ1 + ρ2)
Note: Used in the study of density stratified flows.

Biot Number:
hL conductive resistance in solid
Bi = =
Ks convective resistance in thermal boundary layer

Bond Number:
We 2
Bo = = ρgL
Fr σ

Brinkman Number:
μU2
Br =
K(Tw − To)
Note: Brinkman number is related to heat conduction from
a wall to a flowing viscous fluid. It is commonly used in
polymer processing.

Capillary Number:
We Uμ
Ca = =
Re σ

Cauchy Number:
ρU2
Ca = M2 =
K

Centrifuge Number:
We 2 3
Ce = 2 = ρΩ L
Ro σ

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Dean Number:
Re
De =
(R ⁄ h)1/2
Note: Dean number deals with the stability of two-
dimensional flows in a curved channel with mean radius R
and width 2h.

Deborah Number:
τ relaxation time
De = t =
p characteristic time scale
Note: Commonly used in rheology to characterize how
"fluid" a material is. The smaller the De, the more the fluid
the material appears.

Eckert Number:
U2
Ec =
cpΔT
Note: Eckert number represents the kinetic energy of the
flow relative to the boundary layer enthalpy difference. Ec
plays an important role in high speed flows for which
viscous dissipation is significant.

Ekman Number:
μ viscous force
Ek = =
ρσL2 Coriolis force
E�tv�s Number:
We ΔρgL2
Eo = =
Fr σ

Euler Number:
Δp pressure force
Eu = =
ρU2 inertial force

Fourier Number:
αt rate of heat conduction
Fo = =
L2 rate of thermal energy stored
Note: Fourier number represents the dimensionless time. It
may be interpreted as the ratio of current time to time to
reach steady-state.

Froude Number:
U2 inertial force
Fr = =
gL gravitational force

Galileo Number:
2 ρ2gL3
Ga = Re =
Fr μ2

Graetz Number:
di Pe Udi
Gz = =
L ν

Grashof Number:
gβ(Thot − Tref)L3 buoyancy force
Gr = =
ν2 viscous force

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Hagen Number:
dp ρL3
Hg = −
dx μ2
Note: It is the forced flow equivalent of Grashof number.

Jakob Number:
cp(Tw − Tsat)
Ja =
hfg
Note: Jakob number represents the ratio of sensible heat to
latent heat absorbed (or released) during the phase change
process.

Knudsen Number:
λ length of mean free path
Kn = =
L characteristic dimension

Laplace Number:
Re2 ρσL
La = = 2
We μ

Lewis Number:
α thermal diffusivity
Le = D =
AB mass diffusivity

Mach Number:
U inertial force
M = =
a elastic (compressibility) force

Marangoni Number:
dσ LΔT
Ma = −
dT μα
Note: Marangoni number is the ratio of thermal surface
tension force to the viscous force.

Morton Number:
We3 gμ4
Mo = 4
=
Fr Re Δρσ3

Nusselt Number:
hL
Nu =
Kf
Note: Nusselt number represents the dimensionless
temperature gradient at the solid surface.

Ohnesorge Number:
We1/2 μ
Oh = =
Re (ρσL)1/2

Peclet Number:
UL inertia (convection)
Pe = =
α Diffusion

Prandtl Number:
ν momentum diffusivity
Pr = =
α thermal diffusivity

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Rayleigh Number:
gβ(Thot − Tref)L3 buoyancy
Ra = Gr Pr = =
να viscous × rate of heat diffusion

Reynolds Number:
ρUL inertial force
Re = =
μ viscous force

Richardson Number:
Gr gβ(Thot − Tref)L buoyancy force
Ri = = =
Re2 U2 inertial force

Rossby Number:
U inertial force
Ro = =
ΩL Coriolis force

Rotating Froude Number:

FrR =
Fr Ω2L
2 =
Ro g

Schmidt Number:
ν momentum diffusivity
Sc = Le Pr = D =
AB mass diffusivity

Sherwood Number:
hmL
Sh =
DAB
Note: Sherwood number represents the dimensionless
concentration gradient at the solid surface.

Stanton Number:
Nu h
St = = ρUc
Re Pr p

Note: Stanton number is the modified Nusselt number. It is

used in analogy between heat transfer and viscous
transport in boundary layers.

Stefan Number:
cpdT specific heat
St = =
Lm latent heat
Note: Stefan number is useful in the study of heat transfer
during phase change.

Stokes Number:
τUo stopping distance of a particle
Stk = =
dc characteristic dimension of the obstacle
Note: Commonly used in particles suspended in fluid.
For Stk << 1, the particle negotiates the obstacle.
For Stk >> 1, the particle travels in straightline and
eventually collides with obstacle.

Strouhal Number (for oscillatory flow):

L inertia (local)
St = =
Utref inertia (convection)
Note: If tref is taken as the reciprocal of the circular
frequency ω of the system, then

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ωL
St =
U
Taylor Number:
ρ2Ωi2L4
Ta =
μ2
where L = [ri(ro − ri)3]1/4

Weber Number:
ρU2L inertial force
We = =
σ surface tension force

Womersley Number:
(ρω)1/2
α = (π Re St)1/2 = L
μ1/2
Note: Womersley number is used in biofluid mechanics. It is
a dimensionless expression of the pulsatile flow frequency
in relation to the viscous effects.

Nomenclature:
a → speed of sound
cp → specific heat at constant pressure
DAB → mass diffusivity coefficient
dT → temperature difference between phases
dc → characteristic dimension of the obstacle
di → hydraulic diameter of the duct
g → gravitational acceleration
h → heat transfer coefficient
h → width of the channel
hfg → latent heat of condensation
hm → mass transfer coefficient
K → bulk modulus of elasticity
K → thermal conductivity of fluid
Kf → thermal conductivity of fluid
Ks → thermal conductivity of solid
L → characteristic length scale
Lm → latent heat of melting
R → radius of the channel
ri → radius of the inner cylinder
ro → radius of the outer cylinder
Thot → temperature of the hot wall
Tref → reference temperature
To → bulk fluid temperature
Tsat → saturation temperature
Tw → wall temperature
T∞ → quiescent temperature of the fluid
t → time
tref → reference time
tp → characteristic time scale
U → characteristic velocity scale
Uo → fluid velocity far away from the object
dp/dx → pressure gradient

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dσ/dT → rate of change of surface tension with temperature

α → thermal diffusivity of fluid
β → volumetric thermal expansion coefficient
Δp → characteristic pressure difference of flow
ΔT → characteristic temperature difference
Δρ → difference in density of the two phases
λ → length of mean free path
μ → viscosity of fluid
ν → kinematic viscosity of fluid
ρ → density of fluid
ρ1 → density of heavier fluid
ρ2 → density of lighter fluid
ρl → density of solid
σ → surface tension
τ → relaxation time
Ω → angular velocity
ω → circular frequency
ωi → angular velocity of inner cylinder

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