International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.54, No.7-8, 1682-1683, 2011
If the Dittus and Boelter equation is really the McAdams equation, then should not the McAdams equation really be the Koo equation?
In his technical note "Where did the Dittus and Boelter equation come from?", R.H.S. Winterton showed the likely creator of the modern version of the Dittus and Boelter equation was actually McAdams. The following note further investigates Winterton's claim and finds conclusive evidence that the Dittus and Boelter equation did indeed originate with McAdams. The fortuitous combination of the "so-called" McAdams equation for smooth tube friction factor with the Reynolds analogy provides the leading coefficient of 0.023. McAdams actually attributes the usage of fluid bulk properties to his form of the equation to the work of Dittus and Boelter. Along the way, it was also found that what is commonly known as the McAdams equation for smooth tube friction factor is actually the work of E.C. Koo, his graduate student. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.