ABSTRACT
Recall the study of dimensional analysis from fluid mechanics (see any undergraduate text-White, 2008; Fox et al., 2009; Munson et al., 2009; and Gerhart et al., 1992-and review as necessary). The concept is linked to the principle of dimensional homogeneity and is critical to the correct design of experiments and the extraction of the maximum possible information from a mass of test data. When the concept is applied to turbomachines, it provides a greater depth of understanding of performance and classification of machines, it allows the extrapolation of performance data from one operating condition to another, and it helps to clarify the fundamental reasons behind the wide configuration differences in machines.
