13 Dimensional Analysis
Introduction
New engineers quickly begin to recognize from even the most casual observations that the solution to engineering problems usually involves the consideration of many parameters as well as parameter dependencies and interdependencies. In other words, many quantities could affect the physical behavior of a given system, and different effects will be obtained when varying one parameter versus another.
In particular, the behavior of fluids is relatively difficult to describe because they deform, especially as they flow around objects (often referred to as “bodies”). The fluid also produces forces and moments on bodies, including the familiar lift and drag forces. There is undoubtedly an intuitive expectation that what the flow does (e.g., where the fluid goes) and what effects it has on the body will be determined at least partially by the geometrical shape of the body, as well as its orientation to the flow. The forces will also be expected to depend on the fluid properties already discussed, such as flow velocity (airspeed), density, viscosity, temperature, pressure, speed of sound, etc. However, other parameters may also be involved.
To solve this type of fluid dynamics problem, one approach would be to set down and use the equations of motion governing the behavior of the fluid and then try to solve these equations. These nonlinear partial differential equations are called the Navier-Stokes equations, and they form the basis of a tool called computational fluid dynamics (CFD). However, this is not a straightforward approach, not just because of the complexity of the equations that must be solved but also because considerable proficiency is needed in the solution methods. Another approach would be to do experiments to find the relationships between the forces on a body and the fluid properties, e.g., in a wind tunnel. Again, however, this would not be an easy task, partly because of the number of measurements needed.
At least in principle, either or both of these latter approaches will allow the effects of the fluid on the body to be determined and the reciprocal effects of the body on the fluid. However, even with CFD and the ability to do experiments, sequential variations in the values of the problem parameters to determine cause and effect will take a very long time. Nevertheless, another method can be used to help determine the general effects of key physical quantities on aerodynamic behavior. This method is called dimensional analysis, which reduces the number of unknowns governing the understanding of the problem into sets of non-dimensional groupings called similarity parameters. These parameters then allow a significant simplification in understanding the effects of the original problem parameters. Dimensional analysis is not restricted to fluid problems and is helpful in many fields of engineering and science.
Learning Objectives
- Review the system of SI (metric) and USC (British Imperial) units of measurement and their proper use.
- Understand how to perform dimensional analysis, a method used to bring out the primary dependencies in an engineering problem in terms of a non-dimensional grouping called similarity parameters.
- Better understand the significance of similarity parameters and how they can be used to simplify a problem and reduce the number of dependencies, i.e., making a problem easier to understand.
- Develop and discuss some exemplar problems to become familiar with the method and practice of dimensional analysis and the use of similarity parameters.
All About Units
Before examining the process of dimensional analysis, it is helpful to review the subject of units and measurement systems. A unit is a standardized measurement of a parameter or quantity that has been adopted by consensus and defined by convention, e.g., the SI system. The expression of quantities that are measured in terms of standardized units allows their magnitude or numerical value to be evaluated and compared. Adopting a units system for the measurement of a broad range of physical parameters allows engineers and scientists across the world to communicate and work with each other using a common standard.
The value of a particular physical quantity is always given the product of a number and a unit (unless unitless), e.g., 12.4 meters per second (m/s) in SI units is equal to 40.68 feet per second (SI) in USC or British Imperial units, where the conversion factor from meters to feet is 3.281. This means the numerical value of a quantity depends on the system of units in which it is expressed. Engineers in the U.S. typically use both SI and USC units. However, there is a preference to use SI units because of their widespread adoption and use in scientific research and compliance with international standards. Conversion factors are available so that numerical values in one unit system can be expressed as equivalent values in the other.
SI Units
Quantity | Quantity symbol | SI unit name | Unit symbol |
---|---|---|---|
Length | L | meter | m |
Mass | M | kilogram | kg |
Time | T | second | s |
Temperature | ![]() |
Kelvin | K or oK |
Velocity | V | meter per second | m/s |
Acceleration | a | meter per second2 | m/s2 |
Force | F | Newton | N |
Energy | E | Joule | J |
Power | P | Joule per second = Watt | W |
Pressure | p | Newtons per m2 = Pascal | Pa |
Viscosity | ![]() |
Pascal-second | Pa s |
USC Units
Quantity | Quantity symbol | USC unit name | Unit symbol |
---|---|---|---|
Length | L | foot | ft |
Mass | M | slug | slug or sl |
Time | T | second | s |
Temperature | ![]() |
Rankine | R or oR |
Velocity | V | feet per second | ft/s |
Acceleration | a | feet per second2 | ft/s2 |
Force | F | pound | lb |
Energy | E | foot-pound | ft-lb |
Power* | P | foot-pounds per second | ft-lb/s |
Pressure | p | pounds per foot2 | lb/ft2 |
Viscosity | ![]() |
slug/(ft s) or pound seconds per foot | slug/(ft s) or lb s/ft |
Notice that the name “slug” as a unit of mass originates from the concept of mass as an inertia or “sluggish” and has been referred to as the “engineer’s mass unit.” The unit of a “slug” has also been associated with the mass of a lead projectile, but because a slug as a unit mass has a corresponding weight of 32.17 lb, then this is a more unlikely association.
The use of “pounds-mass” (lbm) as a measure of mass is generally considered to be a source of confusion in the engineering and scientific fields. Therefore, the unit of “pounds-mass” is is best avoided in preference of using the “slug” as the base mass unit. While USC units are largely similar to British Imperial units, there are differences in regard to volumetric measurements.
What is a horsepower?
The output of an engine is often measured in “horsepower,” which is given the unit symbol “hp.” This unit is attributed to the Scottish engineer James Watt, whose work on steam engines was fundamental to the changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. James Watt wanted to compare the power output of his new steam engines to that of horses to help market them. Watt did experiments and determined that a typical farm horse could, on average, steadily lift a 600 lb weight through a simple pulley system an average distance of 63.9 ft in 69 seconds. Therefore, the work done is
Power is the rate of doing work, so the work per unit of time is
James Watt settled on the result that 1 hp = 550 ft-lb s; he was not too concerned about accuracy. All he wanted was a simple but representative quantitative measure of the power delivered by a horse relative to what his steam engines could produce and so better market his engines. The unit made sense to farmers and others using horses to move equipment, so for a steam engine of 10 hp, for example, the purchaser knew exactly what they were buying. The unit of “horsepower” is still used today almost worldwide.
In 1975, the U.S. government declared the international SI system to be the “preferred” unit system but did not require it. Indeed, the USC system still prevails in the U.S. as the preferred measurement system, and the U.S. is one of the few countries in the world that does not exclusively use the SI system. In Britain, the use of mixed SI and Imperial units is also common, but not as much as in the U.S. The SI units system is preferred in all engineering and scientific work, and many situations it may be required by specification, international code, or regulation. However, in today’s global community, engineers and scientists from all countries need to be conversant in the use of both SI and USC units.
NOTE: In aviation, distances are measured in terms of nautical miles, which is neither Imperial or SI, airspeed is measured in terms of knots (nautical miles per hour), and altitude is measured in feet, the use of such units being in accordance with ICAO aviation and aeronautical standards.
Working with units
Student engineers need to become comfortable with the use of both SI and USC units. This end, when presented with a problem in SI units, then the problem should be solved entirely in SI units. Likewise, when presented with a problem in USC units, then the problem should be solved entirely in USC units. Never convert back and forth to suit yourself because this is when mistakes happen. Sometimes, information (values) will be presented in mixed units, with some values in SI and others in USC. In this case, it is important to convert all of the information to either SI or USC, depending on what outcome is required. In either case, it is important that all information available s converted to base units before evaluations are conducted, in which case the final desired value or values will also be in base units. If unit conversions are required, then handy conversion factors can be found by access the NIST website from the links below. It is important that when using unit conversions, the full accuracy of the conversion factor should be used. Rounding of numerical values should only be done at the end of the calculations.
CGS Units
The centimeter–gram–second or CGS system of units is an increasingly obsolete variant of the metric system. CGS units are based on the centimeter as the base unit of length, the gram as the base unit of mass, and the second as the base unit of time. The CGS system has been largely supplanted by the use of SI units, but sometimes quantities measured in CGS units are still encountered in engineering and scientific practice. Converting between CGS and SI units is easy because the conversion factors are all powers of 10, as reviewed in the table blow, For example, 100 cm = 1 m and 1,000 g = 1 kg. The CGS unit of force is called the dyne, which is 1 g cm/s, so a Newton (N) in SI units is equal to 100,000 dynes in CGS units.
Quantity | Quantity symbol | CGS name | Unit symbol | Unit definition | SI units |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Length | L | centimeter | cm | 1/100 of meter | 10−2 m |
Mass | M | gram | g | 1/1000 of kilogram | 10−3 kg |
Time | T | second | s | 1 second | 1 s |
Velocity | V | centimeter per second | cm/s | cm/s | 10−2 m/s |
Acceleration | a | gal (Galileo) | Gal | cm/s2 | 10−2 m/s2 |
Force | F | dyne | dyn | g cm/s2 | 10−5 N |
Energy | E | erg | erg | g cm2/s2 | 10−7 J |
Power | P | erg per second | erg/s | g cm2/s3 | 10−7 W |
Pressure | p | barye | Ba | g/(cm s2) | 10−1 Pa |
Dynamic viscosity | ![]() |
poise | P | g/(cm s) | 10−1 Pa s |
Kinematic viscosity | ![]() |
Stokes | St | cm2/s | 10−4 m2/s |
When NASA lost a spacecraft because of a units mistake!
In September of 1999, the NASA Mars Climate Orbiter unexpectedly burned up and crashed into the surface of Mars after almost ten months of space travel. The project cost over $100M. It turned out that engineers had made a massive units blunder, muddling quantities between the SI and USC systems. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) used the SI system, while Lockheed used the USC system. Because of this blunder, the navigation system flew the spacecraft too fast and too close to the atmosphere, where it burned up. Read more about this mistake here as well as some other engineering disasters that have occurred because of the muddling of units. Be sure not to make the same mistakes!
Physical Quantities
Science and engineering involve observations of the physical world; engineers aim to express observations in the most general and the simplest type of formulation. The role of mathematics is essential here, and the resulting formulation will stem directly from the properties or quantities considered in the quantitative analysis. The allowed types of properties are called physical quantities.
Physical quantities are of two types: base quantities and derived quantities. Base quantities such as mass, length, time, and temperature can be readily measured. Derived quantities are things like velocity, pressure, energy, and power, all of which are derived from these base quantities. In dimensional analysis, only base quantities are used; those mostly encountered in mechanics and engineering are listed in the table below. Other base quantities that may arise in problem-solving are electrical current (Amp), the intensity of light (Candela), and concentration (Mole).
Base quantity | Symbol | SI unit | USC unit |
Mass | M | kilogram (kg) | slug (or slugs or sl) |
Length | L | meter (m) | foot (ft) |
Time | T | second (s) | second (s) |
Temperature | ![]() |
Kelvin (![]() |
Rankine (![]() |
Finding Base Dimensions
Many of the parameters routinely used in engineering are derived parameters, in that their units are derived from combinations of base units, e.g., volume, density, force, work, energy, power, etc. From now on, notice that the parameter inside a set of square brackets, i.e., “[parameter],” is used to mean the dimensions of that parameter. Notice also that scientific notation must be used throughout to avoid ambiguity in the final units of the derived parameter, e.g., use and not
. Consider the following examples:
- Volume,
, is a derived quantity because to calculate the volume of something such as a cuboid, then its width (units of
) must be multiplied by its length (units of
) by its height (units of
). Therefore, the derived units for volume are
or [
] =
.
- Density,
, is also a derived parameter because the density
of something is its mass (
) per unit volume (
), so density will have units of
, i..e., [
] =
.
- Force,
, is a derived parameter, although in some cases, “force” could be carried through the problem as a base unit. A force is the product of a mass and acceleration (Newton’s second law), so in terms of its base units, then [
] =
.
- Torque,
, is a derived parameter because a torque is a moment, so the product of a force times a distance or “arm.” Therefore, [
] =
.
Obtaining the correct base units of any given parameter takes some practice, but it is essential for correctly using dimensional analysis Again, the scientific notation should be used when expressing the units of a parameter to avoid ambiguity, e.g., always use the form and never the form
.
Aerodynamic Force on a Wing
To introduce the subject and methods of dimensional analysis, consider the forces produced on a wing in the wind tunnel, as shown in the photo below. The resultant aerodynamic force on the wing is . For convenience, it can be assumed that this force acts at a center of pressure, which, by definition, is a point where there are no pitching moments.

On a physical intuitive basis, then it would be expected that the resultant aerodynamic force on the wing for a given orientation to the flow will depend on:
- Free-stream velocity,
.
- Free-stream density,
.
- The viscosity of the air, i.e., on the coefficient of viscosity
.
- The size of the wing, as described by its planform area
, which for a rectangular wing is the product of its chord
and span
, i.e.,
, as shown in the figure below.
- The sonic velocity
, i.e., the potential for compressibility effects.
The subscript or “infinity” is used to mean undisturbed conditions, i.e., the “free-stream” or reference values of these quantities that are constant well upstream of the wing. This approach makes sense because as the flow approaches the wing, these values are all likely to change. Notice that the angle of attack of the wing,
, is the angle between the chordline of the wing (i.e., a line running from the nose to the tail of the wing) and the direction of the free-stream velocity
.

The relationship between and the air properties may now be written in a general functional form as
(1)
where is referred to as the dependent variable and
,
,
and
are called the independent variables. The functional dependence, i.e., the relationship between the variables, which in this case is denoted by “
” is still to be determined. Although this latter equation expresses a very general relationship, its use in this form is mostly impractical for the direct measurement or calculation of
.
To see why consider how could be measured in the wind tunnel by a student of aerodynamics. The procedure might start with the student placing a wing at a given angle of attack,
, and then (somehow) systematically varying each of the dependencies
,
,
and
(i.e., a total of five parameters) in turn, and in each case measuring the corresponding values of
. Varying the wind speed
is easy because it can be controlled easily in the wind tunnel, and different wings could be tested to change the wing area
. The other parameters, however, are more challenging to vary directly or systematically. However, if it could be done, then the number of possible experimental runs required in the wind tunnel would be
(!).
Then that process would need to be repeated by the student for different values of the wing origination to the flow, . Eventually, the needed relationships between
and all dependent quantities at each angle of attack would be determined. Therefore, it does not take much to figure out that this process of systematically varying each of the dependent parameters, in turn, could take the student a very long time, even by doing parallel calculations using aerodynamic theory.
This approach would also result in a large quantity of data, from which cross-plotting and perhaps curve-fitting could be used to find the needed functional relationships as to how ,
, etc., would each affect
. If just one dependent variable was used, then just a single column of numbers would be obtained, and the functional relationship would be easy to establish. However, a book of tables would be needed for four or more dependent variables or many pages of charts and graphs. Hence, it soon becomes apparent to the student that managing an engineering problem with three, four, or more independent variables is challenging. Systematically varying each independent parameter to establish the “cause and effect” on the dependent parameter would be impractical from a measurement perspective, nor would it be attractive from a computational (modeling) approach.
Basis of Dimensional Analysis
Fortunately, the approach to the preceding problem can be simplified by employing dimensional analysis, which can be used to determine sets of non-dimensional (or dimensionless) groups of parameters that affect the problem of interest. Such an approach will also reduce the number of independent variables, so it becomes an essential technique for understanding many engineering problems, not just aerodynamics.
Dimensional analysis is based on the fact that if an equation of parameters such as
(2)
expresses some physical relation, then the parameters ,
,
, and
must all have the same dimensions for the equation to be mathematically valid, e.g.,
,
,
, and
could all be values of pressures or velocity components. Furthermore, to make sense then each parameter must also be expressed numerically in the same units system.
This previous equation can be made non-dimensional or dimensionless, or what is called dimensionally homogeneous by dividing through by one of the terms, i.e., the same result can be expressed as
(3)
Another advantage of this form is that all of the quantities are now expressed as ratios so the system of units is irrelevant.
Lord Rayleigh and Joseph Bertrand originally set down these simple but profoundly important ideas in what is called the “Method of Dimensions.” However, they are now formally embodied in what is known as the “Buckingham Theorem” after Edgar Buckingham, who developed it into a more structured form suitable for general use. The Buckingham
Theorem (usually just called the Buckingham
Method) is a generalized formalization of the method of dimensions, which can now be examined.
The Buckingham Π Method
Let be equal to the number of fundamental dimensions required to describe the physical variables. In engineering, most physical variables can be expressed a combinations of mass, length, time, and temperature, so in general
. In mechanics, then mass, length, and time are involved, so
. Let
represent a list of
physical variables in the general physical relationship
(4)
where is the dependent parameter and
are the independent parameters. The function
represents a general functional relationship, as yet unknown. The previous equation can also be written is implicit form as
(5)
where represents another functional relationship between the parameters yet to be determined. The Buckingham
method then states that the above relationship may be expressed as a relationship of fewer
dimensionless products called
products, where each
product is a dimensionless product of a selected set of
repeating variables plus one other variable. One key to the method, therefore, is how to go about the process of selecting the most suitable repeating variables.
To see how this method works, let be the selected
repeating variables, i.e.,
(6)
where now there are new functional relationships, i.e.,
,
….
, but now they are expressed in terms of the non-dimensional
products. Therefore, it can be written that
(7)
where is the functional relationship (still to be determined) but now it is expressed in terms of each of the
products. In explicit form, this latter equation can also be written as
(8)
where is some other functional relationship.
The upshot of the dimensional analysis process means that the functional relationship has been reduced from the initial dimensional variables to
non-dimensional or dimensionless variables. The reduction the number of dependent parameters, therefore, is a significant simplification in the analysis of the original problem. For example, if originally
and
, i.e., the dependent variable is a function of five other parameters as in the wing problem discussed above, the dimensional analysis will reduce the problem to three non-dimensional groupings. If
and
, then the dimensional analysis will reduce the problem to two non-dimensional groupings in that one grouping becomes a sole function of the other grouping.
Π Method Applied to the Drag on a Sphere
Consider a sphere to be tested in a low-speed wind tunnel to measure its drag, as shown in the photograph below. Perhaps the drag of a sphere sounds boring compared to a wing, but this problem helps first to introduce the process of dimensional analysis without making the process too lengthy.
Furthermore, the aerodynamic characteristics of a sphere is particularly relevant to all sorts of ball games. The motion of balls through air is a complex fluid dynamic problem that is influenced by many factors, including the density, velocity, viscosity, the size of the ball, and its surface finish. For example, the aerodynamics of a golf ball affect the distance, spin, and overall trajectory of the ball. Ever wonder why a golf ball has dimples in its surface? In baseball, the aerodynamics of a baseball can influence the speed and trajectory of a pitch.

Functional Dependency
The objective is to find the non-dimensional groupings that will describe this aerodynamic problem. On a physical intuitive basis, the aerodynamic drag force, , on the sphere would be expected to depend on:
- Free-stream velocity,
.
- Free-stream density,
.
- Free-stream viscosity, i.e., the coefficient of viscosity
.
- The size of the sphere, as described by its diameter
.
The relationship between and the air properties may be written in a general functional form as
The drag is the dependent variable.
,
,
and
are the independent variables. The functional dependence in this case is denoted by
The functional dependence in implicit form is
where is some other function. In this case,
,
,
, so there are two
products to be determined.
Understanding explicit versus implicit functional forms


















Dimensions of the Variables
Now the dimensions of the variables in this problem must be determined. For each dependency, then
Recall that the units of force are obtained from the product of mass and acceleration, i.e., .
Dimensional Matrix
The solution to the dimensional analysis problem proceeds by setting up a dimensional matrix with all of the parameters being given in terms of their base units. Setting up the dimensional matrix in this case gives
One purpose of the dimensional matrix is to lay the problem out in a clear manner and test for linear independence of the repeating variables in terms of the chosen primary dimensions.
Repeating Variables
Although the selection of the repeating variables can be viewed as somewhat arbitrary, in general, they must always be selected based on four essential rules:
- The repeating variables must all have a primary dependency on the dependent variable. In this case, the variables
and
can all be expected to have a strong effects on the dependent variable,
.
- The dependent variable,
, cannot be used as a repeating variable, so it must appear only in one group, by default. No exceptions.
- The repeating variables must include all of the physical based dimensions of the problem, i.e., they must collectively include mass and/or length and/or time, as appropriate, for the particular problem in question. In this case,
, and
collectively include all of the base dimensions of mass, length, and time.
- The repeating variables must be linearly independent of one another, i.e., repeating variables must not be chosen that will have the same units or products of the same units, e.g., repeating variables with two different length scales or two different reference velocities cannot be used. In this case,
, and
are all linearly independent of each other.
If these prior rules are followed, the dimensional analysis process will likely succeed. If not, then it will fail, often catastrophically. For complex problems, of which there are many in engineering, the choice of repeating variables may not be obvious but should still be selected to be quantities that are most likely to have substantial effects on the dependent variable. For example, the velocity and density of the flow in an aerodynamic problem are excellent examples of two quantities that will have significant effects on the aerodynamic forces.
Formal Check for Linear Independence
To formally check for linear independence (although, in most cases, this will be obvious), the determinant of the sub-matrix formed by the selected repeating variables must be determined, which in this case is
(9)
If ,
and
are non-zero constants in the following equation, for linear independence then
(10)
Reassembling this in matrix form gives
(11)
For this matrix equation to have a nontrivial solution then the determinant must be zero, i.e., the test is whether
(12)
In this case, the determinant is 1.
Therefore, it has now been formally verified that the selected repeating variables and
are indeed linearly independent of each other. In most cases, however, the formal test is not needed because if the variables are chosen such that they do not have the same units or products of the same units, then they will be linearly independent.
Development of the Π Products
Following the Buckingham method, then the
products in this case will be
First Π Product
For then
The values of the coefficients ,
and
must now be obtained to make the equation dimensionally homogeneous and non-dimensional. In terms of the dimensions of the problem then
Because the left-hand side of the above equation is dimensionless, it means that the powers or exponents of ,
and
must add to zero to make the equation dimensionally homogeneous. Therefore, for
to be dimensionless, then
so that
By inspection, ,
, and
. Therefore, the first
product is
or
which is a force coefficient. Normally, aerodynamic force coefficients are defined in terms of the dynamic pressure, i.e., . Also, in this case a good reference is to use projected area
. Therefore, the force coefficient as would be written as
Dealing with exponents or powers
In dimensional analysis, solving for the non-dimensional groupings simply involves adding the values of the unknown exponents for each base dimension. Exponents are also called the power of the quantity because it represents the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself. Here are some examples:
When working with exponents, the rule to remember is that the base parameter has to be the same and the process of addition is performed on the exponent.
Second Π Product
For then
so in terms of dimensions then
Equating the powers gives
Therefore, in this case ,
, and
.
i.e.,
or by inverting the quantity a non-dimensional grouping is still obtained, i.e.,
Recall from previously that this non-dimensional parameter is called the Reynolds number.
Final Result for Functional Dependency
As a result of the dimensional analysis on the sphere then
or
or in explicit form
The functional dependency to be measured is now . The force can be measured with a balance, and with measurements of the density and viscosity (via measurements of pressure and temperature) the calculations are made of:
1. The drag coefficient, .
2. The Reynolds number, .
The results are shown in the figure below for the drag coefficient on the sphere as measured in the wind tunnel as a function of Reynolds number. Notice the rapid decrease in the drag coefficient between and
, which suggests that something very profound is happening to the flow about the sphere. This behavior is tied to the characteristics of the flow on the surface of the sphere, which change from being dominated by laminar flow events to turbulent flow events.

Effects of surface roughness?
Notice also from the results given in the foregoing plot is that the drag coefficient of the sphere depends on whether the sphere has a smooth or rough surface. Indeed, this is a very interesting outcome as it affects the drag of a golf ball! Therefore, it is useful to think about what might happen if surface roughness was added as fifth variable to the parameter list, i.e., in this case assume that
where is a linear measure of the roughness height. The new functional dependence of
in the implicit form is
In this case, ,
,
, so there are three
products. The first two
products have already been determined and it is easily shown that now
where is a non-dimensional roughness height.
Π Method Applied to a Wing
Returning to the wing problem previously discussed, the explicit dependency of the resultant aerodynamic force (the dependent quantity) in terms of the independent variables is
(13)
The functional dependence can also be written in implicit form, i.e.,
(14)
where is some functional dependency to be determined. Following the
method then
,
,
, and so three
products must be found in this case.

Dimensions of the Variables
Now, the dimensions of the variables must be determined. Remember that the square brackets [-] around a variable mean “the dimensions of” that variable. So, for each dependency in this case then
Notice that the units of force are obtained from the product of mass and acceleration, i.e., [] =
. It is critically important that each of the variables is assigned the correct base units. If not, the Buckingham
method will fail.
Forming the Dimensional Matrix
The solution to the dimensional analysis problem proceeds by setting up a dimensional matrix with all of the parameters being given in terms of their base units, i.e.,
(15)
Choice of Repeating Variables
In this problem, a good choice of the repeating variables is , and
, which is a common choice for aerodynamic problems. Remember not to choose the dependent variable as a repeating variable. Remember also that the repeating variables must be linearly independent, i.e., the units of any one repeating variable cannot be linearly obtained from the units of any other. In a practical sense, choosing repeating variables with different dimensions or products of dimensions is necessary. For example, two repeating variables comprising a length and an area, or two repeating variables with units, cannot be used, or the method will fail. Furthermore, the repeating variables must collectively include all of the base dimensions of the problem. In this case, the choice of the repeating variables
, and
satisfy all of these requirements.
- NEVER choose the dependent variable as a repeating variable! If this rule is ignored, then the Buckingham
method will fail catastrophically.
- Always choose repeating variables that will, or are likely to, have a primary effect on the dependent variable. For aerodynamic problems, these are usually the density of the flow, the speed of the flow, and some area or length scale.
- Do NOT choose repeating variables that have the same dimensions, so don’t choose two repeating variables, such as flow velocity and the speed of sound (which both have units of length/unit time), or two length variables, such as a wing chord and a wing span (both have units of length). For example, length and area scales cannot both be used as repeating variables, which are also not linearly independent.
- Remember that the choice of repeating variables may not, in most cases, be unique! The choice is not arbitrary, but a different choice of repeating variables will inevitably lead to a different set of non-dimensional groupings. Even though non-dimensional groupings are obtained, the process can be conducted again with a different set of repeating variables.
Development of Π Products
Continuing to follow the Buckingham procedure, then the
products in this problem are
First Π Product
Take the first product,
, then
(16)
where the coefficients ,
and
are unknowns and their values must be obtained appropriately to make the equation dimensionally homogeneous, i.e., finding their values to make the equation non-dimensional with units of 1. In terms of the dimensions, then
(17)
where is used to mean “the dimensions of variable
.” Collecting the terms gives
(18)
Because the left-hand side of the above equation is dimensionless, it means that the powers or exponents of ,
and
must add to zero to make the equation dimensionally homogeneous, i.e.,
Therefore, in this case by inspection then ,
, and
and so the first
product is
(19)
or
(20)
Hence, , is a form of force coefficient. Aerodynamic force coefficients are nearly always defined in terms of the dynamic pressure, i.e.,
, which is referred to as
, so more usually the force coefficient would be written as
(21)
Notice that multiplying a similarity parameter by a constant value does not change the units of that parameter.Paralleling the above approach used to find , the two remaining
products, namely
and
, can now be derived.
Second Π Product
For then
(22)
so
(23)
and
Therefore, in this case ,
, and
and so this
product becomes
(24)
Notice that this derived product is a non-dimensional parameter that will become infinite as the velocity tends to zero. This behavior is not very convenient in practice, but the
product can simply be inverted to prevent that from happening. The outcomes is still a non-dimensional parameter, but now one that is more convenient, i.e., the
product becomes
(25)
Because, in this case, there is a square-root of an area, it can be replaced by a linear dimension, such as the chord of the wing , i.e., the area of a rectangular wing will be its chord
times the span of the wing
or
, so now
(26)
The choice of the appropriate length scale is somewhat arbitrary (e.g., the wing span could have been used) but generally in an aerodynamic problem a parameter describing a downstream distance should be used, e.g., wing chord in this case.
This latter non-dimensional parameter is known as the Reynolds number, which is denoted by the symbol . The Reynolds number is one of the most significant parameters in aerodynamics because it governs the relative magnitude of viscous effects to inertia effects in the flow.
Third Π Product
Similarly, for the third product then
(27)
and so in terms of dimensions, then
(28)
giving
Therefore, in this case ,
, and
, i.e.,
(29)
Again, the product can be inverted for convenience (to put
on the numerator) and still have a non-dimensional quantity so
(30)
This particular non-dimensional parameter is called the Mach number (the free-stream Mach number in this case), which is the ratio of the free-stream velocity to the free-stream speed of sound. The Mach number is an important quantity in aerodynamics that not only affects the magnitude of the forces on a body but also the compressible nature of the flow, in general.
Final Result for Functional Dependency
Therefore, as a result of the dimensional analysis on the wing problem then
(31)
or
(32)
or in explicit form
(33)
The previous result is a significant outcome because it means the original aerodynamic problem in the wind tunnel has been reduced from one that involves five independent variables (for which is practically impossible to determine the functional relationships to ) to one that now only has only two variables! Therefore, with a little effort, it has been shown that to determine the force
on a given wing at a given angle of attack
, then only the dependence of
and
on
need to be established. The non-dimensional parameters
(the Reynolds number) and
(the Mach number) are known as similarity parameters.
Both the Reynolds number and the Mach number are known to have substantial effects on the aerodynamic forces produced on a wing. In the figure below, the wing lift coefficient (non-dimensional lift) is plotted versus the angle of attack for a series of free-stream Mach numbers from 0.3 (subsonic) up to 0.75 (transonic). Notice that there are two primary effects. The first effect is that increasing the Mach number increases the lift coefficient for a given angle of attack, at least in the lower angle of attack regime. The second effect is that the maximum value of the attainable lift coefficient is reduced with increasing Mach number, which is a consequence of the flow detaching or separating from the wing and is called stall. In other words, the angle of attack at which stall occurs decreases with increasing Mach number. The effects of Reynolds number on the lift on a wing will be discussed later.

Adding another dependency to the problem
Think about what might happen if span was added as a seventh variable to the parameter list in this previous problem, i.e., in this case assume that
Therefore, ,
,
, and so four
products will result from the dimensional analysis. The first first three have already been determined so it should be fairly obvious that the forth non-dimensional grouping will be


Other Worked Examples
The best way of learning the method of dimensional analysis is by doing examples. After working through two or three more examples, the student will quickly realize the power of dimensional analysis and how this technique can help in engineering problem solving. Naturally, the method is not restricted to aerodynamics, and the process of dimensional analysis is useful in all branches of engineering and the physical sciences.
Worked Example #1 – Drag on a Tiny Particle
A tiny spherical particle of diameter (assume in the sub-micron size range) is falling freely vertically at velocity
in air, as shown in the figure below. Find the similarity parameter that governs the drag on the particle.
Functional Dependence
The aerodynamic drag on the particle can be written in functional form as
where is the viscosity of the air. The drag can be written is explicit functional form as
where “” is some function to be determined. In implicit form then
where “” is some other function. In this case,
and
(by inspection, all of mass, length and time are involved in this problem) so there are
, i.e., one
product.
Dimensional Matrix
Setting down the dimensional matrix then
Product
The dependent variable in this case) cannot be a repeating variable and so for the only
product then
and in terms of dimensions then
For the group to be dimensionless, then
Therefore, = -1, and
and
= -1 so the
product is
which is a drag coefficient applicable, in this case, to what is known as a Stokes flow.
Check
Notice: It is always good to check the final units of the grouping to be sure it is non-dimensional, i.e., it has units of 1. So, in this case
which indeed confirms that the grouping is non-dimensional.
What happens when things go wrong?
Sometimes when using the Buckingham method, it is impossible to find a set of repeating variables that are linearly independent or a set that includes all of the fundamental dimensions of the problem. In some other cases, the solution to the problem of finding the powers of the parameters becomes indeterminate, i.e., we cannot uniquely solve for the non-dimensional groupings. The accepted solution to this dilemma is to reduce the number of repeating variables by one and create an extra
grouping.
Worked Example #2 – The Bobbing Booster
A solid rocket booster parachutes back to Earth and falls into the sea. The booster bobs around in the sea in an upright position at a frequency of . Using dimensional analysis, show that the non-dimensional frequency of this motion,
, is given by
It may be assumed that for this problem the frequency of motion depends on the diameter of the booster , the mass of the booster,
, the density of the water
, and acceleration under gravity,
.

Functional Dependency
By using the information provided then the frequency of motion can be written in explicit functional form as
where “” is some function to be determined, or in implicit form as
where “” is some other function. Therefore,
= 5,
= 3 and so there are two
products.
Repeating Variables
The repeating variables must collectively include all the units of mass , length
and time
, so the best choice here is
,
and
. Notice that if
were to be chosen instead of
as a repeating variable, then collectively the repeating variables would not include time
and so the Buckingham
method will fail in this case. The dependent variable,
, cannot be used as a repeating variable.
Products
Therefore, the two products are
and
Dimensional Matrix
The dimensional matrix is
Derivation of the
Products
The first product is
where the values of the coefficients ,
and
must be obtained to make the equation dimensionally homogeneous. In terms of the dimensions of the problem then
For to be dimensionless, then the powers or exponents of
,
and
must add to zero, i.e., in this case
Therefore, = 1/2,
= 0, and
= -1/2, so the
product is
For the second product then
In terms of the dimensions then
For to be dimensionless, then
Therefore, = -1,
= 0, and
, so the
product is
which is a buoyancy similarity parameter, i.e., the ratio of the mass (or weight
) of the water displaced to the mass
(or weight
) of the rocket booster.
Final Non-Dimensional Functionality
Finally, in non-dimensional form then
(34)
or that
(35)
CAUTION: Pound force versus pound mass?
In engineering, we generally always use units of “slugs” (or sometimes just “slug”) for mass in the USC system and never “pounds-mass.” Using “slugs” for mass and “pound” for force prevents the muddling of “pounds-force” lb and “pounds mass” lb
, which, if misused, can result in catastrophic errors in engineering calculations. A pound-force is defined as the product of a pound mass and acceleration under gravity, i.e., 1 lb = 1 lb
x g, i.e., 1 pound force = 1 pound mass times acceleration under gravity or about 32.17 ft s
. Therefore, a 1 lb force will accelerate a 32.17 lb mass at 1 ft s
. However, a 1 lb force will also accelerate 1 slug of mass at 1 ft s
. This means that a “slug” has a mass equivalent to 32.17 “pounds mass.” So, when we are using “pounds mass,” there is always a multiplicative factor of “g” or “32.17 ft s
” floating around, and most of the time, it causes nothing but problems in calculations for students. However, the multiplicative factor is “1” when using slugs for the above reason. So, we see immediately why the preference is to keep everything simple and in good order by using “slugs” and never “pounds mass,” and so remove the extra “g” or 32.17 from our engineering calculations.
Worked Example #3 – Drag on a Banner
The AIAA Design Build & Fly (DBF) team need to determine the factors that influence the aerodynamic drag on a rectangular banner being towed behind their airplane. The size of the banner is determined by its length, , and height,
. Use the Buckingham
method to determine the non-dimensional groupings that will govern this problem. You may also assume that the problem is governed by the airspeed of the airplane, as well as the density and viscosity of the air. Assume further that the banner remains flat and does not flutter in the flow behind the airplane.
Functional Relationship
The relationship between the drag on the banner and the air properties can be written in the general functional form as
where the size of the banner is represented by its length, , and height,
. Remember that
is called the dependent variable and
,
,
,
and
are are the independent variables. The functional dependence of
in implicit form is
Counting up the variables gives and
because there are 3 fundamental dimensions in this problem. Therefore,
and so there will be three
products.
For each variable the dimensions are
Dimensional Matrix
The dimensional matrix is
Repeating Variables
Choose ,
and
as the repeating variables, which will all have primary effects on the drag of the banner. These variables also collectively include all the fundamental dimensions of this problem and are linearly independent of each other.
Products
Following the Buckingham method, then the three
products are:
Derivation of the
Products
For
:
The values of the coefficients ,
, and
must now be obtained to make the equation dimensionally homogeneous. In terms of the dimensions of the problem, then
For to be dimensionless, then the powers or exponents of
,
and
must add to zero, i.e.,
By inspection ,
, and
. Therefore, the first
product is
or
i.e., a form of drag coefficient. The aerodynamic force coefficients are usually defined in terms of the dynamic pressure, i.e., so that more conventionally the force coefficient would be written as
It would also be legitimate to write the drag coefficient as
where the banner area is used rather than
. Ultimately, how
is defined is just matter of convenience and/or consistency with established convention.
For
:
so
and
Therefore, in this case ,
, and
, so
or
Inverting the grouping gives
which in the latter case is a Reynolds number based on the banner length. Notice that the grouping can be inverted if needed, such as to follow established convention or just because it is otherwise convenient to do so.
For
:
so
giving
Therefore, in this case ,
, and
, i.e.,
so
or again inverting this grouping (for convenience) giving
which is a length to height ratio or what would be called an aspect ratio .
Final Non-Dimensional Functional Dependency
As a result of our dimensional analysis then
or
Finally, in explicit form the drag coefficient can be written as a function of Reynolds number based on banner length and the aspect ratio of the banner, i.e.,
Note: Try this problem again using ,
and
as the repeating variables. What happens to the groupings?
Other Dimensionless Quantities
Some physical variables are naturally dimensionless by virtue of their definition, i.e., as ratios of the same dimensional quantities. One example often encountered in thermodynamics and aerodynamics is the ratio of specific heats, . Another example of a naturally dimensionless parameter used in structural analysis is strain, which is defined as the ratio of the change in length of a structural component under loading,
, compared to its initial length,
, i.e., the strain is
. Finally, in hydrostatics, the specific gravity,
, is often used, which is a dimensionless number because it is defined as the ratio of the density of a given liquid relative to the density of water.
Finally, it should be remembered that all angles are dimensionless. In engineering analysis, angles that are measured in radians are always used, which is defined as a ratio of the arc length to the radius of a circle. While angles are often measured or reported in degrees, units of degrees must be converted to radians for most engineering calculations. A complete circle subtends an angle of radians. which is equivalent to 360 degrees or 360
, so the angular conversion is 1 radian =
degrees. The same should also be done with angular rates, which should always be converted to radians per second (rad/s) no matter what units the rates are originally given in, e.g., rates are often measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
Conversion Factors
A ratio that converts one unit of measurement into another unit of measurement is called a conversion factor. Engineers often use conversion factors from common measurement units to engineering units, an example being converting from the temperature in Celsius to engineering temperature units of Rankine.
Often pressure may be measured in units of “pounds per square inch” or lb/in or psi, but this is not an engineering (base) unit. It needs to be converted to “pounds per square foot” or lb/ft
or psf, i.e., 1 psf = 1/144 psf where the conversion factor, in this case, is 1/144 the factor 144 being 12
12 where 12 inches equals one foot. Other units of pressure measurement include a “bar” where 1 bar = 100 kPa = 100,000 Pa with Pa (1 Pascal = 1 Newton per square meter or 1 Pa = 1 N/m
) being the base engineering unit of pressure measurement. A Pascal is a small amount of pressure, so the use of hectoPascals (hPa), which is 100 Pa, kilo-Pa (kPa) or even Mega-Pa (MPa) is not uncommon. So, to obtain pressure units of Pa from measurements of pressure in bars, then 1 Pa = 1/100,000 bars, so the conversion factor, in this case, is 1/100,000 or 10
.
Summary & Closure
Dimensional analysis can be a powerful tool for engineering analysis because it reduces and simplifies the size and scope of the problem in terms of non-dimensional groupings called similarity parameters. The strength of dimensional analysis as a tool usually becomes apparent when it is applied to increasingly more complicated engineering problems, such as where the effects of all the dependencies cannot be established explicitly and/or the governing equations for the solution of the problem can become formidably complicated. For example, it is common for engineering problems to have five, six, seven or even more dependencies. However, sorting out the problem parameters into non-dimensional groupings helps understand what parameters are essential as they will affect the physical behavior and what parameters are not.
The dimensional analysis must be used in a systematic and structured approach, which is formally embodied in the Buckingham method. A critical first step is to carefully lay out the problem in terms of the dependent and independent quantities, which must all be assigned the correct base units. While the choice of the repeating quantities is somewhat arbitrary, specific rules must be adhered to for the method to work. For example, it is critical that the dependent quantity NOT be used as a repeating variable. The repeating variables must also have substantial effects on the dependent quantity and be linearly independent of each other, i.e., two repeating parameters with the same dimensions cannot be used such as two reference length scales or two reference velocities. If the basic rules of the Buckingham
method are followed, then the outcomes will be groups of non-dimensional (unitless) parameters that should not only help in the understanding of the problem but will simplify its scope.
5-Question Self-Assessment Quickquiz
For Further Thought or Discussion
- You are tasked with explaining to a high-school student studying physics the advantages of using dimensional analysis and non-dimensional quantities. What two primary arguments would you make?
- The force on a body in the wind tunnel is known to depend on flow velocity (airspeed) as well as the static pressure and temperature in the flow. What other parameters may be involved? Hint: Do not suggest parameters such as viscosity or the speed of sound.
- Use dimensional analysis to show that the drag of the hull of a ship, in part, depends on the Froude number. The Froude number is defined as
, where
is the length of the ship and
is the speed of the ship through the water.
- You are tasked with determining the hydrodynamic drag force
on a fully submerged, very long, neutrally buoyant cable being dragged behind a ship. You propose to do this by doing small scale experiments in a water tunnel. Determine the non-dimensional groupings that will affect this problem.
- Show that the pressure-drop caused by a restrictor in a flow can be expressed in terms of the Euler number
where the pressure drop is expressed in terms of an energy loss in the flow per unit of kinetic energy per volume of the flow.
Other Useful Online Resources
To dive deeper in the methods of dimensional analysis, navigate to the following online resources:
- Ever heard of a “ream” or an “octa”? Find out at All About Units!
- Metric Trivia Quiz – How much do you know about the metric system (SI)? Try the NIST Metric Trivia Quiz online or use the Alexa skill to test your knowledge and be on your way to thinking metric!
- Busting Myths about the Metric System.
- Description of dimensional analysis on Wikipedia
- YouTube video on the Buckingham
method
- YouTube Video of an example of using the Buckingham
method