Similarity And Dimensional Methods In Mechanics | L.I. Sedov

This book contains a complete development of the fundamental con­ cepts of Dimensional Analysis and Similarity Methods, illustrated by applications to a wide variety of problems in mechanics, and particu­ larly in fluid dynamics. The subject is developed from first principles and can be understood with the aid of an elementary knowledge of mathematical analysis and fluid dynamics. More advanced physical concepts are explained in the book itself. The first three chapters describe the basic ideas of the subject with illustrations from familiar problems in mechanics. The last two chapters show the power of Dimensional and Similarity Methods in solving new problems in the theory of explosions and astrophysics.

The book should be of interest to students who wish to learn dimen­ sional analysis and similarity methods for the first time and to students of fluid dynamics who should gain further insight into the subject by following the presentation given here. The book as a whole and particu­ larly the application to recent problems should appeal to all those con­ nected with the many present-day aspects of gas dynamics including astrophysics, space technology and atomic energy.

The basic ideas behind Similarity and Dimensional Methods are given in the first chapter, which is general and descriptive in character. The second chapter consists of a series of examples of application of the methods, to familiar problems such as the motion of a simple pendulum, modelling in ship design, and the many scaling effects which arise in wind tunnel or water tank testing. Chapter III shows the use of Simi­ larity and Dimensional Analysis in developing fundamental contribu­ tions to viscous fluid theory, such as the Blasius flat plate solution, and the various theories of isotropic turbulence.