Dimensional Analysis Study Notes for SSC JE & AE JE Exams

By Sidharth Jain|Updated : August 20th, 2023

Dimensional Analysis topic study notes are essential for the preparation of RRB JE, SSC JE, and other AE JE exams. Therefore, a portion of the Fluid Mechanics topic has been covered here to provide aspirants with in-depth knowledge of Dimensional Analysis.

Every AE & JE Civil Engineering exam contains questions from Fluid Mechanics. Aspirants face difficulty while tackling or solving questions from the Dimensional Analysis topic in SSC JE, RRB JE, or any state AE JE exams. Therefore, aspirants should learn by referring to the Dimensional Analysis study notes.

Introduction of Dimensional Analysis

  • Dimensional analysis is the study of the relation between physical quantities with the help of dimensions and units of measurement. It helps in performing mathematical calculations smoothly without changing the units.
  • The dimensional analysis combines dimensional variables, non-dimensional variables, and dimensional constants into non-dimensional parameters, which reduces the number of necessary independent parameters to solve a problem.

Dimension:

A dimension is a measure of a physical quantity (without numerical values), while a unit is a way to assign a number to that dimension.

Primary dimensions (Fundamental or Basic dimensions):

  • All physical quantities are measured by comparison with length (L), Mass(M), Time(T).
  • There are seven basic dimensions named mass (m), length (L), time (t), temperature (T), electric current (i), amount of light and amount of matter. These dimensions are called fundamental dimensions.

Secondary Dimensions:

They possess more than one fundamental dimension, i.e. Velocity is LT-1

byjusexamprep

Methods of Dimensional Analysis

The relation among know variables can be determined by these two methods:

  1. Rayleigh method
  2. Buckingham -theorem

Rayleigh Method:

It is used to establish the relation for a variable that depends on not more than three or four variables.

Let X be a variable that depends on X1, X2, X3, then, according to the Rayleigh method.

X=f (X1, X2, X3)

byjusexamprep

Buckingham π- theorem:

It defines that  “Any problem having n variables and out of which m variables have primary dimensions (such as  M, L, T) then equation establishing a relation between all the variables will have (n-m) dimensionless groups”.

These dimensionless groups represent as π groups, and they can be written in the form of:

πl = f (π2, π3,……. πn-m)

There are some conditions that must be considered in this method for solving it:

  1. Each fundamental dimension must be present in at least one of the m variables.
  2. Number of repeated variables is equal to the number of fundamental quantities.
  3. A recurring/repeating variables don't have the same dimensions and any two variables or more don't form a dimensionless quantity.

Method of selecting repeating variables:

The repeating variables is chosen with the consideration of the following points:

  1. Repeating variable should not include dependent variable.
  2. The selection of repeating variable should be in such a manner that one of the variables should represent the geometric property, the second should be the flow property, and the third variable should be the fluid property.
  3. The repeating variables selected should not form a dimensionless group.
  4. The repeating variables together must have the same number of fundamental dimensions.
  5. No two repeating variables should have the same dimensions.

 

Various Forces in Fluid Mechanics

1. Inertia force (Fi): It is the product of the mass and acceleration of the flowing fluid and acts in the opposite direction of acceleration.
Fi ρL2V2

2. Surface tension force (Fs): It is defined as the product of surface tension and surface length of the flowing fluid.

F=σ L

3. Gravity force (Fg): It is defined as the product of mass and acceleration resulting from the gravity of the flowing fluid.

Fg = ρl3g

4. Pressure force (FP): It is equal to the product of pressure and normal cross-sectional area of the flowing fluid.

FP = P × A

⟹ FP = PL2

5. Viscous force (Fv): It is defined as  the product of shear stress (τ) resulting from viscosity and surface area (As) of the flow.

F= μLv

6. Elastic force (F­e): It is equal to the product of elastic stress and area (A) of the flowing fluid.

 Fe = KL2

byjusexamprep

Introduction of Similitude & Modelling  

A similitude is a similarity between the model and prototype in every respect, which means that the model and prototype has similar properties. Three types of similarities must exist between the model and prototype are as follows:

  • Geometric similarity: If the ratio of corresponding dimensions in model & Prototype are same.

     byjusexamprep

  • Kinematic similarity: The ratio of velocities or accelerations at corresponding points in model and prototype are the same for kinematic similarity. For kinematic similarity, Geometric Similarity is mandatory.

    byjusexamprep

  • Dynamic similarity: The ratio of forces at the corresponding points in model and prototype are the same. For dynamic similarity, geometric and kinematic similarities are necessary.

      byjusexamprep

Reynold’s Model Law: 

According to Reynold’s model law, the Reynold number for the model must be equal to the Reynold number for the prototype for dynamic similarity.

byjusexamprep

Froude’s Model Law: 

According to the Froude model law, the Froude number for both the model and the prototype is equal for the dynamic similarity. Froude model law applies when the gravity force is the only predominant force.

byjusexamprep

Euler’s model law:

According to Euler’s model law, the Euler number for model and prototype should be equal to the dynamic similarity. Euler’s model law is applicable when the pressure forces are alone predominant in addition to the inertia force.

byjusexamprep

 Weber model law: 

Weber model law is applicable where surface tension force effects dominant to inertia force. Weber number of the model and its prototype should be the same for the dynamic similarity.

byjusexamprep

Mach Model Law: 

This law is applicable where the elastic compression forces predominate over inertia force.  The Mach number of the model and its prototype should be equal for the dynamic similarity.

byjusexamprep

Undistorted Models: 

Undistorted models are those models that are   geometrically similar to their prototypes. Thus, the scale ratio for the linear dimensions of the model and its prototype is the same.

Distorted Models: 

A model is said to be distorted if it is not geometrically similar to its prototype. For a distorted model, different scale ratios for the linear dimensions are adopted.

Example:

In the case of rivers, harbours, reservoirs, etc., two different scale ratios are considered. One scale ratio for horizontal and while the other for vertical dimensions are taken.

You can avail of BYJU’S Exam Prep Online classroom program for all AE & JE Exams:

BYJU’S Exam Prep Online Classroom Program for AE & JE Exams (12+ Structured LIVE Courses)

You can avail of BYJU’S Exam Prep Test series specially designed for all AE & JE Exams:

BYJU’S Exam Prep Test Series AE & JE Get Unlimited Access to all (160+ Mock Tests)

Thanks

Team BYJU’S Exam Prep

Download BYJU’S Exam Prep APP, for the best Exam Preparation, Free Mock tests, Live Classes.

Comments

write a comment

Dimensional Analysis Study Notes FAQs

  • It is mainly important for SSC JE & RRB JE and other state JE exams.

  • It varies from 2 to 3 marks in different AE & JE Exams.

  • Yes, this topic is very much important to understanding Fluid mechanics subject.

  • Rayleigh's method of analysis is adopted when a number of parameters or variables is less (3 or 4 or 5).

    If the number of independent variables becomes more than four, then it is very difficult to find the expression for the dependent variable


AE & JE Exams

AE & JEAAINBCCUP PoliceRRB JESSC JEAPPSCMPPSCBPSC AEUKPSC JECGPSCUPPSCRVUNLUPSSSCSDEPSPCLPPSCGPSCTNPSCDFCCILUPRVUNLPSPCLRSMSSB JEOthersPracticeMock TestCourse

Follow us for latest updates