A Dimensional Analysis Experiment for the Fluid Mechanics Classroom

Charles Forsberg

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Conference: 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Vancouver, BC
Publication Date: June 26, 2011
Start Date: June 26, 2011
End Date: June 29, 2011
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Mechanical Engineering Laboratories I
Tagged Division: Mechanical Engineering
Page Count: 12
Page Numbers: 22.37.1 - 22.37.12
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--17319
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/17319
Download Count: 1248

Paper Authors

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Charles Forsberg Hofstra University

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Charles H. Forsberg is an Associate Professor of Engineering at Hofstra University, where he primarily teaches courses in the thermal/fluids area. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. from Columbia University. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in New York State.

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Abstract

A Dimensional Analysis Experiment for the Fluid Mechanics ClassroomDimensional analysis is a technique used in many fields of engineering to facilitate correlationand interpretation of experimental data. It provides a means of combining the many parametersof an experiment into a lesser number of dimensionless groups. This technique greatly reducesthe amount of experimental work needed to determine the effect of parameter variation on thedependent parameter of the experiment.In the mechanical engineering curriculum, dimensional analysis is typically taught in the fluidmechanics lecture course, where students apply the Buckingham-Pi theorem and determine theappropriate dimensionless groups for a given problem. The procedure used for determining thedimensionless groups is generally straight-forward but tedious. It is believed that the use oflaboratory demonstrations in the lecture class would increase the students’ interest in the subjectand would significantly enhance the students’ comprehension of the usefulness of dimensionalanalysis in the planning of experimental programs and the interpretation of experimental data.The intent is to have students actively participate in the performance of the demonstrations andthe gathering of data. They would also correlate the data during the class period using softwaresuch as Excel, Matlab or MathCad. The class session would be lively, with much increasedstudent participation and active learning.Accordingly, we have developed a fluid mechanics experiment dealing with the flow of fluidsthrough nozzles of different sizes. The pressure drop across the nozzle is measured for a varietyof flow rates and for different fluids. Using dimensional analysis, the students determine theappropriate dimensionless groups for the experiment and correlate the experimental data. Thestudents thereby observe first-hand the usefulness of dimensional analysis in the correlation andinterpretation of experimental data.The paper describes the experimental apparatus and procedures in detail. The apparatus isportable and can easily be transported to and from the classroom on a cart. The paper includes aparts list, a discussion of construction aspects, and includes actual data obtained from theexperiment.In summary, this paper describes a fluid mechanics experiment which can be used to enhancelectures on dimensional analysis. Through active student participation, the experiment shouldgreatly increase the students' interest in the subject and their comprehension of the use ofdimensional analysis in the planning of experiments and the correlation of experimental data.

Citation
Format

Forsberg, C. (2011, June), A Dimensional Analysis Experiment for the Fluid Mechanics Classroom Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--17319

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -                       A Dimensional Analysis Experiment for the                            Fluid Mechanics ClassroomDimensional analysis is a technique used in many fields of engineering to facilitate correlationand interpretation of experimental data. It provides a means of combining the many parametersof an experiment into a lesser number of dimensionless groups. This technique greatly reducesthe amount of experimental work needed to determine the effect of parameter variation on thedependent parameter of the experiment.In the mechanical engineering curriculum, dimensional analysis is typically taught in the fluidmechanics lecture course, where students apply the Buckingham-Pi theorem and determine theappropriate dimensionless groups for a given problem. The procedure used for determining thedimensionless groups is generally straight-forward but tedious. It is believed that the use oflaboratory demonstrations in the lecture class would increase the students’ interest in the subjectand would significantly enhance the students’ comprehension of the usefulness of dimensionalanalysis in the planning of experimental programs and the interpretation of experimental data.The intent is to have students actively participate in the performance of the demonstrations andthe gathering of data. They would also correlate the data during the class period using softwaresuch as Excel, Matlab or MathCad. The class session would be lively, with much increasedstudent participation and active learning.Accordingly, we have developed a fluid mechanics experiment dealing with the flow of fluidsthrough nozzles of different sizes. The pressure drop across the nozzle is measured for a varietyof flow rates and for different fluids. Using dimensional analysis, the students determine theappropriate dimensionless groups for the experiment and correlate the experimental data. Thestudents thereby observe first-hand the usefulness of dimensional analysis in the correlation andinterpretation of experimental data.The paper describes the experimental apparatus and procedures in detail. The apparatus isportable and can easily be transported to and from the classroom on a cart. The paper includes aparts list, a discussion of construction aspects, and includes actual data obtained from theexperiment.In summary, this paper describes a fluid mechanics experiment which can be used to enhancelectures on dimensional analysis. Through active student participation, the experiment shouldgreatly increase the students&#39; interest in the subject and their comprehension of the use ofdimensional analysis in the planning of experiments and the correlation of experimental data.
AU  - Charles Forsberg
CY  - Vancouver, BC
DA  - 2011/06/26
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - A Dimensional Analysis Experiment for the Fluid Mechanics Classroom
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/17319
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--17319
ER  -