Re: [Boost-users] [units] Calculating air density

Subject: Re: [Boost-users] [units] Calculating air density
From: Michael Powell (mwpowellhtx_at_[hidden])
Date: 2015-08-09 14:31:12

On Sun, Aug 9, 2015 at 1:55 PM, Michael Powell <mwpowellhtx_at_[hidden]> wrote:
> On Sun, Aug 9, 2015 at 1:32 PM, Michael Powell <mwpowellhtx_at_[hidden]> wrote:
>> On Sun, Aug 9, 2015 at 11:16 AM, Michael Powell <mwpowellhtx_at_[hidden]> wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I'd like to calculate air density at altitude. Studying some notes on wikipedia:
>>
>> I am trying to derived a "specific gas constant" dimension, and
>> corresponding units: usually in the form of (J/(kg K)).
>>
>> Mass and temperature dimensions are simple enough to build upon.
>>
>> However, energy? Not so much, or perhaps there is a better way that I
>> am not grasping.
>>
>> /// derived dimension for specific gas constant : J M^-1 Theta^-1
>> typedef derived_dimension<energy_dimension,1,
>>                           mass_base_dimension,-1,
>>                           temperature_base_dimension,-1>
>> specific_gas_constant_dimension;
>>
>> Which is yielding some errors, this and a host of others:
>>
>> Error 19 error C2039: 'tag_type' : is not a member of
>> 'boost::units::derived_dimension<boost::units::energy_dimension,1,boost::units::mass_base_dimension,-1,boost::units::temperature_base_dimension,-1,boost::units::dimensionless_type,0,boost::units::dimensionless_type,0,boost::units::dimensionless_type,0,boost::units::dimensionless_type,0,boost::units::dimensionless_type,0>'
>> I:\Source\Boost.org\boost_1_58_0\installed\x64\include\boost-1_58\boost\units\detail\linear_algebra.hpp
>> 701 1 Kingdom.Physics.Calculators
>>
>> My guess is for deriving a dimension from a derived dimension? Is
>> there a better dimension to use for the energy component?
>>
>> Or am I wasting time trying to setup a dimension and I should simply
>> build the units themselves?
>>
>> Or, do I really need to string together all the dimensions that
>> constitute the energy dimension? or Joules ?
>
> Which, when I "do the math" on the dimensions, I'm not positive, but
> the Mass components cancel themselves out (though their actual
> quantities might not actually do so...), so I end up with something
> like this?
>
> typedef derived_dimension<length_base_dimension,2,
>                           time_base_dimension,-2,
>                           temperature_base_dimension,-1>
> specific_gas_constant_dimension;

I persuaded the compilation to succeed with the following correction:

typedef derived_dimension<length_base_dimension,2,
                          time_base_dimension,-2,
                          temperature_base_dimension,-1>::type
specific_gas_constant_dimension;

Which interestingly enough, perhaps there is a wrapper that I can
incorporate an existing derived dimension? like energy_dimension?

And just to prove it to myself (and the compiler):

                static const quantity<specific_gas_constant> dry_air_
= 287.058*joules_per_kilogram_kelvins;

Is the same as saying this:

                static const quantity<specific_gas_constant> dry_air_
= 287.058*joules / (kilogram*kelvins);

> Basically substituting and reducing from Joules (J) being energy,
> which is M L^2 T^-2.
>
> Which should happen when we say something like this:
>
> quantity<specific_gas_constant> dry_air_ = 287.058*joules/(kilogram*kelvins);
>
> Or this for shorthand, with appropriate unit defined:
>
> quantity<specific_gas_constant> dry_air_ = 287.058*joules_per_kilogram_kelvins;
>
>> I suppose, consistent with the m.o. of consistency over convenience ...
>>
>> Thank you...
>>
>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Density_of_air
>>>
>>> Symbol is typically Greek Rho, whose dimensions are generally M/L^3;
>>> units will probably be kg/m^3, although I am also reading about
>>> slugs/ft^3.
>>>
>>> Which incorporates a gas constant value:
>>>
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_constant
>>>
>>> Whose units appear to be Joules/(Volume*Temp).
>>>
>>> I'm not seeing anything too terribly exotic there; all these units /
>>> dimensions are present in Boost.Units?
>>>
>>> As is usually the case, it is interesting to see how the units library
>>> "reduces" the units during code writing, compilation. Very impressive
>>> indeed.
>>>
>>> Thank you...
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> Michael Powell