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Dimensionless Numbers in Fluid Mechanics

Dimensionless numbers are ratios of two quantities with the same dimensions, cancelling out units. This document discusses important dimensionless numbers in fluid mechanics, including Mach's number (ratio of fluid velocity to speed of sound), Weber's number (ratio of inertia to surface tension forces), Euler's number (ratio of inertia to pressure forces), and Reynolds number (ratio of inertia to viscous forces). It also provides a long list of other dimensionless numbers used in fluid mechanics like the Prandtl, Grashof, Rayleigh, and Nusselt numbers.

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166 views4 pages

Dimensionless Numbers in Fluid Mechanics

Dimensionless numbers are ratios of two quantities with the same dimensions, cancelling out units. This document discusses important dimensionless numbers in fluid mechanics, including Mach's number (ratio of fluid velocity to speed of sound), Weber's number (ratio of inertia to surface tension forces), Euler's number (ratio of inertia to pressure forces), and Reynolds number (ratio of inertia to viscous forces). It also provides a long list of other dimensionless numbers used in fluid mechanics like the Prandtl, Grashof, Rayleigh, and Nusselt numbers.

Uploaded by

Danyal Khattak
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Dimensionless Numbers in Fluid Mechanics |

Definition & List


By ClubTechnical | March 10, 2019
0 Comment
Table of Contents

In this article we will understand concept of ‘Dimensionless Numbers’. After


understanding it we will discuss some important dimensionless (Non-
Dimensional) numbers related to fluid mechanics field.
1. What is a dimensionless number?
As the name indicates dimensionless numbers are not associated with any
dimensions, like m, kg, sec etc.
Non-dimensional numbers are the ratios of two numbers which have same
dimensions. Hence dimensions get cancelled.
For example:
If we take ratio of pressure to stress then the number obtained will be
dimensionless. Because both pressure and stress have same dimensions
i.e. N/m2.
Let us now understand some very important dimensionless numbers
related to fluid mechanics.
2. Five important dimensionless numbers in fluid mechanics
 Mach’s number (M)
 Weber’s number (We)
 Euler’s number (Eu)
 Froude’s number (Fe)
 Reynold’s number (Re)
2.1. What is Mach’s number (M)?
Mach’s number is defined as square root of ratio of inertia force to elastic
force of moving fluid.
M = (Inertia force/Elastic force)1/2
After putting values and solving above equation we will get.
M = V/C
Where
V = Velocity of fluid
C = Velocity of sound in that fluid
Alternatively, many people define Mach’s number as a ratio of velocity of
object to velocity of sound.
2.2. What is Weber’s Number (We)?
Weber’s number is defined as square root of ratio of inertia force to surface
tension force of moving fluid.
We = (Inertia force/Surface tension force)1/2
After putting values and solving above equation we will get.
We = V/(σ/ρ*L)1/2
Where
V = Velocity of fluid
σ = Coefficient of surface tension
ρ = Density of fluid
2.3. What is Euler’s Number (Eu)?
Euler’s number is defined as square root of ratio of inertia force to pressure
force of moving fluid.
Eu = (Inertia force/Pressure force)1/2
After putting values and solving above equation we will get.
Eu = V/(P/ρ)1/2
Where
V = Velocity of fluid
ρ = Density of fluid
P = Pressure of flowing fluid
2.4. What is Froude’s Number (Fe)?
Froude’s number is defined as square root of ratio of inertia force to gravity
force of moving fluid.
Fe = (Inertia force/gravity force)1/2
After putting values and solving above equation we will get.
Fe = V/(L*g)1/2
Where
V = Velocity of fluid
g = Gravitational acceleration
2.5. What is Reynold’s Number (Re)?
Reynold’s number is defined as ratio of inertia force to viscous force of
moving fluid.
Re = Inertia force/viscous force
After putting values and solving above equation we will get.
Re = V*L/ʋ
Where
V = Velocity of fluid
ʋ = Kinematic viscosity
3. List of other important dimensionless numbers in fluid
mechanics
 Zel’dovich number
 Womersley number
 Weissenberg number
 Weaver flame speed number
 Wallis parameter
 Ursell number
 Taylor number
 Stuart number
 Strouhal number
 Stokes number
 Stanton number
 Sommerfeld number
 Sherwood number
 Shape factor
 Schmidt number
 Roshko number
 Richardson number
 Rayleigh number
 Pressure coefficient
 Prandtl number
 Péclet number
 Ohnesorge number
 Nusselt number
 Morton number
 Markstein number
 Marangoni number
 Manning roughness coefficient
 Lockhart–Martinelli parameter
 Lift coefficient
 Lewis number
 Laplace number
 Kutateladze number
 Knudsen number
 Keulegan–Carpenter number
 Karlovitz number
 Iribarren number
 Hagen number
 Hartmann number
 Grashof number
 Graetz number
 Görtler number
 Galilei number
 Fanning friction factor
 Excess temperature coefficient
 Ericksen number
 Eötvös number
 Eckert number
 Drag coefficient
 Deborah number
 Dean number
 Darcy friction factor
 Damkohler number
 Colburn J factors
 Chandrasekhar number
 Capillary number
 Brownell–Katz number
 Brinkman number
 Bond number
 Blake number
 Biot number
 Bingham number
 Bejan number
 Atwood number
 Archimedes number

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