Computer-Aided Selection of Dimensionless Numbers
C. D. Heatwole, Larry A. Stauffer, Malcolm E. Wright · Transactions of the ASAE · 1982
ABSTRACT FOR a set of n pertinent quantities with m fundamen-tal dimensions, of which the rank of the dimensional matrix is r = m, there are an infinite number of possible sets of dimensionless numbers (rr-terms) with n-m 7T-terms in each set. If each rr-term within each set con-tains a unique pertinent quantity, linear independence of the 7T-terms is assured and the total number of sets of 7T-terms is reduced to n!/{m! (n-m)!}. A systematic ap-proach for determining all possible such sets of dimen-sionless numbers with the aid of a computer program is described. The output from the computer program allows the investigator to review these sets without mak-ing exhaustive claculations and then to choose one that best fits his experimental capabilities.